Gp. Pickering et al., EFFECTS OF ENDURANCE TRAINING ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR-SYSTEM AND WATER COMPARTMENTS IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS, Journal of applied physiology, 83(4), 1997, pp. 1300-1306
The effects of endurance training on the water compartments and the ca
rdiovascular system were determined in 10 elderly subjects [age 62 +/-
2 yr, pretraining maximal oxygen consumption ((V) over dotO(2max))/kg
= 25 +/- 2 ml.min(-1).kg(-1) body wt]. They trained on a cycloergomet
er 3 times/wk for 16 wk (50-80% (V) over dotO(2max), then 80-85% (V) o
ver dotO(2max)). They were checked at 8 wk, 16 wk, and 4 mo after detr
aining. Training improved (V) over dotO(2max) (+16%) and induced plasm
a volume expansion (+11%). No change in total body water, extracellula
r fluid, interstitial and intracellular fluid volumes, fat-free mass,
and body weight was detected in this small sample with training. Body
fat mass decreased(-2.1 +/- 2.2 kg). Echocardiography at rest showed i
ncreased fractional shortening and ejection fraction and decreased lef
t ventricular end-systolic dimension (P < 0.05). Blood volume expansio
n correlates with cardiac contractility and has an impact on cardiac f
unction. These improvements are precarious, however, and are completel
y lost after 4 mo of detraining, when elderly subjects lose the constr
aints and the social stimulation of the imposed protocol.