EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE MIDDLE AND ELDERLY AGED MEN WITH AN INTENTION OF IMPROVING THEIR AEROBIC WORK CAPACITY / 体力科学

ABSTRACT

For the purpose of determining appropriate exercise prescription for middle and elderly men without exercise habit, when they begin daily exercise intending to improve their aerobic work capacity, the effects of 10 minute walking on a horizontal treadmill at the speeds of 80m/min, 100m/min and 120m/min on the respiro-circulatory functions and blood ingredients and so on were compared. Four healthy men aged 44-72 served as the subjects. They showed no particular abnormality in medical check and various tests at rest.<BR>Treadmill walking, of course, augmented oxygen intake, pulmonary ventilation and tidal volume according to the walking speed, and the augmentation was especially marked in case of 120m/min. The heart rate continued to increase during walking in case of 120m/min. The index (heart rate×pulse pressure) adopted as a relative indication of cardiac output presented no marked difference between 80m/min and 100m/min, but the value in case of 120m/min was about twice as much as those in cases of 80m/min and 100m/min. Moreover, the oxygen removal was appreciably lower in case of 120m/min than those in cases of 80m/min and 100m/min. Changes in blood contents of several substances were also marked in case of 120m/min, and the increase of lactate was especially striking. Urine tests revealed general tendencies of decrease in urine volume, decline of pH, and slight increase in excretion VMA, 17OHCS and 17KS.<BR>The above-mentioned findings seem to suggest that 10 minute walking at the speed of 100m/min is to be most preferable in case of exercise prescription for healthy middle and elderly aged men in order to improve their aerobic work capacity, because walking at that speed causes sufficient and appropriate augmentation of metabolism and activities of respiro-circulatory functions.<BR>Additional remarks the present study was carried out on the basis of the experiences of 20 minute jogging corresponding to 2/3 VO<SUB>2</SUB> max made by middle aged men 5 days a week for 5-6 years.