Cardiorespiratory Responses of Pilots to Maximal Exercise Loading

BACKGROUND: To provide some fundamental physiological basis for the physical training of pilots to improve orthostatic intolerance, cardiorespiratory responses to the symptom-limited maximal exercise loading were studied in pilots and non-pilots, and the results were compared. METHOD: Cardiorespiratory reponses to the symptom-limited maximal exercise loading by Bruce protocol was studied in 11 pilots and 11 matched controls (non-pilots). RESULTS: Comparisons of various data at maximal exercise in the pilots with those in the controls revealed that RR, VE/M2, VE/VO2, VE/VCO2, VT/VC and VE/MVV as well as HR, VO2, O2 pulse and AT showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The fact that the aerobic power in the pilots is not superior to that in the controls seems to emphasisze the necessity of aerobic endurance training along with muscular strength training to improve orthostatic tolerance of pilots flying modern high-performance aircrafts.

Effects of Intensive Training on Cardiorespiratory Response to Maximal Exercise Loading in Soccer Players

BACKGROUND: In order to investigate the effects of intensive training on cardiorespiratory response to maximal exercise in soccer players, graded excercise stress tests were carried out before and after the training, and the results were compared. METHODS: Fourteen male soccer players of a university team with the mean age and career of 19.9 and 7.8 years, respectively, underwent intensive training for approximately 20 weeks, 6 days a week and 4 hours a day, which included running of 2 km daily during the last 8-9 weeks. The symptom-limited maximal exercise test was done by Bruce protocol. RESULTS: After the training. HR max showed no significant changes but Vo2 max, O2 pulse and AT were increased approximately 13%, 12% and 10%, respectively. At maximal exercise, the V(E)/M2 was also increased 18%, but VE/MVV was significantly decreased owing to a marked increase in MVV. However, the rest of various ventilatory parameters showed no significant changes. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the intensive training of about 20 weeks duration can further improve the level of cardiorespiratory fitness in the soccer players who have been regularly trained and are already highly fit.

Effects of Intensive Training on Electrocardiograms and Exercisc Performance in Competitive Swimmers: Including Differences between Swimmers and Non-Swimmers

In the study of electrocardigrams(ECG's) and exercise performance of competitive swimmers, we compared the resting electrocardiographic findings, maximal exercise time and heart rate determined by treadmill exercise test between swimmers and controls. in addition, the effects of an intensive training of 7~9 weeks duration on these parameters were also studied in the swimmers. The study groups consisted of 22 female competitive swimmers with mean age and career of 15.2 and 5.7 years, respectively and 22 matched controls. In the swimmers, the incidence of sinus bradycardial was higher and mean heart rate was lower than those in controls. In a few case of the swimmers, ECG's before the intensive training revealed the first degree heart block, ectopic atrial rhythm and high voltage, but there was no significant changes in the incidences of these findings after the training. In the swimmers before training, maximal exercise time was longer and maximal heart rate was lower than those in the controls, as expected, and the intensive training induced slight but significant changes of the same directions in these parameters compared with those before the training. These facts suggest that in the well-trained competitive swimmers, a short period of intensive training induces no significant changes in ECG's at rest but may prolong exercise time and decrease maximal heart rate.