The Improvement in Exercise Performance during Reduced Muscle Mass Exercise is Associated with an Increase in Femoral Blood Flow in Older and Younger Endurance-Trained Athletes.

This study investigated whether the improved performance observed with maximal self-paced single-leg (SL), compared with double-leg (DL) cycling, is associated with enhanced femoral blood flow and/or altered tissue oxygenation. The hyperaemic response to exercise was assessed in younger and older athletes. Power output was measured in 12 older (65 ± 4 y) and 12 younger (35 ± 5 y) endurance-trained individuals performing 2 x 3 min maximal self-paced exercise using SL and DL cycling. Blood flow (BF) in the femoral artery was assessed using Doppler ultrasound and muscle oxygenation was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy on the vastus lateralis. SL cycling elicited a greater power output (295 ± 83 vs 265 ± 70 W, P < 0.001) and peak femoral BF (1749.1 ± 533.3 vs 1329.7 ± 391.7 ml/min, P < 0.001) compared with DL cycling. Older individuals had a lower peak BF in response to exercise (1355.4 ± 385.8 vs 1765.2 ± 559.6 ml/min, P = 0.019) compared with younger individuals. Peak BF in response to exercise was correlated with power output during SL (r = 0.655, P = 0.002) and DL (r = 0.666, P = 0.001) cycling. The greater exercise performance during SL compared with DL cycling may be partly explained by a greater hyperaemic response when reducing active muscle mass. Despite regular endurance training, older athletes had a lower femoral BF in response to maximal self-paced exercise compared with younger athletes.

Single- Versus Double-Leg Cycling: Small Muscle Mass Exercise Improves Exercise Capacity to a Greater Extent in Older Compared With Younger Population.

Manipulating the amount of muscle mass engaged during exercise can noninvasively inform the contribution of central cardiovascular and peripheral vascular-oxidative functions to endurance performance. To better understand the factors contributing to exercise limitation in older and younger individuals, exercise performance was assessed during single-leg and double-leg cycling. 16 older (67 ± 5 years) and 14 younger (35 ± 5 years) individuals performed a maximal exercise using single-leg and double-leg cycling. The ratio of single-leg to double-leg cycling power (RatioPower SL/DL) was compared between age groups. The association between fitness (peak oxygen consumption, peak power output, and physical activity levels) and RatioPower SL/DL was explored. The RatioPower SL/DL was greater in older compared with younger individuals (1.14 ± 0.11 vs. 1.06 ± 0.08, p = .041). The RatioPower SL/DL was correlated with peak oxygen consumption (r = .886, p < .001), peak power output relative to body mass (r = .854, p < .001), and levels of physical activity (r = .728, p = .003) in the younger but not older subgroup. Reducing the amount of muscle mass engaged during exercise improved exercise capacity to a greater extent in older versus younger population and may reflect a greater reduction in central cardiovascular function compared with peripheral vascular-oxidative function with aging.

Breathing a low-density gas reduces respiratory muscle force development and marginally improves exercise performance in master athletes.

INTRODUCTION: We tested the hypothesis that breathing heliox, to attenuate the mechanical constraints accompanying the decline in pulmonary function with aging, improves exercise performance. METHODS: Fourteen endurance-trained older men (67.9 ± 5.9 year, [Formula: see text]O2max: 50.8 ± 5.8 ml/kg/min; 151% predicted) completed two cycling 5-km time trials while breathing room air (i.e., 21% O2-79% N2) or heliox (i.e., 21% O2-79% He). Maximal flow-volume curves (MFVC) were determined pre-exercise to characterize expiratory flow limitation (EFL, % tidal volume intersecting the MFVC). Respiratory muscle force development was indirectly determined as the product of the time integral of inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressure (∫Pmouth) and breathing frequency. Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure maneuvers were performed pre-exercise and post-exercise to estimate respiratory muscle fatigue. RESULTS: Exercise performance time improved (527.6 ± 38 vs. 531.3 ± 36.9 s; P = 0.017), and respiratory muscle force development decreased during inspiration (- 22.8 ± 11.6%, P < 0.001) and expiration (- 10.8 ± 11.4%, P = 0.003) with heliox compared with room air. EFL tended to be lower with heliox (22 ± 23 vs. 30 ± 23% tidal volume; P = 0.054). Minute ventilation normalized to CO2 production ([Formula: see text]E/[Formula: see text]CO2) increased with heliox (28.6 ± 2.7 vs. 25.1 ± 1.8; P < 0.001). A reduction in MIP and MEP was observed post-exercise vs. pre-exercise but was not different between conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Breathing heliox has a limited effect on performance during a 5-km time trial in master athletes despite a reduction in respiratory muscle force development.