Exercise capacity in the elderly

ABSTRACT

The pulmonary and cardiovascular response to exercise was studied in 20 healthy male subjects above 60 years of age and 10 young healthy controls. No significant variations could be detected in the breathing patterns before and after exercises between both groups. Oxygen consumption at the maximum tolerated exercise level was decreased with advancing age. Oxygen delivery, oxygen pulse and cardiac output did not show significant changes between both groups after exercise, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure showed significant increase in old age at rest in relation to young group, with a significant rise after exercise. Heart rate at rest did not show significant variation between both groups, the rise in heart rate response after exercise was significantly lowered in the elderly, which may be explained by a diminished responsiveness of the target organs in the cardiovascular system to catecholamine stimulation or a defective vagal mechanism in the elderly