Impact of a physical activity program on cerebral vasoreactivity in sedentary elderly people.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a physical activity program on the hemodynamic response of the brain (vasoreactivity) in elderly people. METHODS: Eighteen men and 25 women (aged 62-67 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental (EXP, N.=22, 12 women) and a control (CON, N.=21, 13 women) group. Subjects in EXP group were required to complete a 7-month program based on aerobic training (3-4 sessions/weekd, 50 min/session, 3-4 sessions/week, at 70% maximum heart rate). Transcranial Doppler ultrasound was used to examine the cerebral blood flow response to hypercapnic and hypocapnic stimuli. We also determined blood pressure, total serum cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and conducted an aerobic capacity test (the 2.4-Km walking test). RESULTS.Brain vasomotor reactivity improved in the EXP group, reflected by a higher blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in both cerebral hemispheres in response to hypercapnia (induced by breath holding) (P<0.05). Subjects in EXP group also improved the cardiovascular profile aerobic physical condition (P<0.001) in terms of reduced arterial pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that cerebral vasoreactivity in elderly may be improved by undertaking an aerobic exercise program.

Intensidad del ejercicio en ciclismo indoor / Exercise intensity during indoor cycling

El objetivo de este estudio fue cuantificar la intensidad de una sesión de ciclismo indoor. 300 sujetos experimentados realizaron una sesión en la que se registró la FC media entre el minuto 1-15 (FCmedia1), minuto 16-30 (FCmedia2), y minuto 31-intensidad pico de la sesión (FCmedia3). Se obtuvieron valores de RPE en el minuto 15 (RPE15), 30 (RPE30), y 45 (RPE45). La FC media de la sesión fue 144.84 ± 15.59 lpm. La FCmedia1, FCmedia2 y FCmedia3 fue 135.37 ± 16.50 lpm, 148.84 ± 15.85 lpm, y 153.79 ± 16.66 lpm, respectivamente. La RPE15, RPE30 y RPE45 fue 5.39 ± 1.72, 7.14 ± 1.34 y 7.14 ± 2.44, respectivamente. Las correlaciones bivariadas entre la FC y la RPE mostraron correlación significativa en el minuto 15 (r=0.336; p<0.01), 30 (r=0.291; p<0.01), y 45 (r=0.459; p<0.01). Estos datos sugieren que el ciclismo indoor puede ser una actividad de alta intensidad (AU)

The aim of this study was to quantify the intensity linked to an indoor cycling session. 300 healthy experienced subjects performed an indoor cycling session while HR was recorded between minute 1-15 (HRmean1), 16-30 min (HRmean2) and 31 min to the peak intensity of the session (HRmean3). RPE values were obtained at 15 min (RPE15), 30 min (RPE30) and 45 min (RPE45). Mean HR of the session was 144.84 ± 15.59 bpm. HRmean1, HRmean2 and HRmean3 were 135.37 ± 16.50 bpm, 148.84 ± 15.85 bpm, and 153.79 ± 16.66 bpm, respectively. RPE15, RPE30 and RPE45 values were 5.39 ± 1.72, 7.14 ± 1.34 and 7.14 ± 2.44, respectively. Bivariate correlations made between HR and RPE values showed significant correlation at 15 (r=0.336; p<0.01), 30 (r=0.291; p<0.01), and 45 (r=0.459; p<0.01) min. These data suggest that indoor cycling can be a vigorous intensity activity (AU)