Ten-year echo/doppler determination of the benefits of aerobic exercise after the age of 65 years.

As the human lifespan becomes progressively extended, potential health-related effects of intense aerobic exercise after age 65 need evaluation. This study evaluates the cardiovascular (CV), pulmonary, and metabolic effects of competitive distance running on age-related deterioration in men between 69 (+/-3) and 77 (+/-2) years (mean +/- SD). Twelve elderly competitive distance runners (ER) underwent oxygen consumption and echo/Doppler treadmill stress testing (Balke protocol) for up to 10 years. Twelve age-matched sedentary controls (SC) with no history of CV disease were similarly tested and the results compared for the initial three series of the study. CV data clearly separated the ER from SC. At entry, resting and maximal heart rate, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, peak oxygen consumption (VO(2max)), and E/A ratio of mitral inflow were better in the ER (P < 0.05 vs. SC). With aging, ER had a less deterioration of multiple health parameters. Exceptions were VO(2max) and left ventricular diastolic function (E/A, AFF, IVRT) that decreased (P < 0.05, Year 10 vs. Year 1). Health advantages of high-level aerobic exercise were demonstrated in the ER when compared to SC. Importantly, data collected in ER over 10 years confirm the benefit of intensive exercise for slowing several negative effects of aging. However, the normative drop of exercise capacity in the seventh and eighth decades reduces the potential athleticism plays in prevention of CV events.

Brachial arterial dynamics during staged lower extremity exercise: utility and comparison in physically active versus sedentary subjects.

Constriction and relaxation of peripheral conduit arteries in response to exercise and recovery are amenable to noninvasive imaging. Diameter changes in the brachial artery during stationary bicycle pedaling are paradoxical to those in the lower extremities. When exercise is confined to the legs, arteries in the upper extremities constrict while leg arteries dilate. The magnitude of vasoconstriction in the upper extremities reflects the integrity of exercise mediated vascular responses. In the current study, young and old men with various levels of physical activity and cardiovascular histories exercised on a stationary bicycle while brachial artery diameter and flow velocity were continuously obtained. Results suggest that normal aging blunts arterial reactivity in seniors even if they exercise regularly. However, arterial dysfunction is greater when associated with sedentary lifestyle. This methodology of imaging brachial artery diameter changes during bicycle pedaling appears to be an effective tool for assessing the physiologic integrity of the vascular bed.

Cardiopulmonary and Cardiovascular Physiology in Elderly Competitive Endurance Athletes.

Thirteen elderly male high intensity endurance athletes and 12 healthy age matched nonathletes were evaluated to determine differences in their cardiovascular physiology. Contrary to several pervious reports, this study did not demonstrate superiority of left ventricular (LV) systolic or diastolic function in athletes compared with controls, either at rest or immediately following exercise. Fasting serum lipids failed to demonstrate a favorable cholesterol profile in the athletes compared to inactive controls. Our results point to superior oxygen utilization (mean peak Vo2 44 vs. 27 mL/kg/min; athletes vs. controls) and the capacity to exercise both aerobically (mean duration 24 vs. 12 min; athletes vs. controls) and anaerobically (mean duration 10 vs. 4 min; athletes vs. controls) as distinguishing parameters between the two cohorts. Our study suggests that in senior athletes, enhanced LV diastolic function may not be as great a contributing factor to athletic performance as previously reported. (c)1999 by CVRR, Inc.