THE CARDIOCIRCULATORY REACTION TO ISOKINETIC EXERCISES IN DEPENDENCE ON THE FORM OF EXERCISE AND AGE

Although isokinetic training is gaining in importance in prevention an d rehabilitation, even for older patients, there is hardly any informa tion available on the extent of cardiocirculatory stress. This study w as aimed, therefore, at examining the cardiocirculatory reaction to va rious isokinetic forms of exercise in dependence on age. Sixty-four su bjects between 22 and 60 years of age were assigned to four age groups and the maximum torque measured in concentric and eccentric exercises with various angle accelerations. Moreover, all subjects underwent 1- min concentric and eccentric endurance stress and an isometric test. T he cardiocirculatory reaction as reflected in heart rate and blood pre ssure patterns was determined, as well as the plasma catecholamines ad renaline and noradrenaline measured. The eccentric maximum torque was significantly above the concentric maximum torque; there was a signifi cant inverse relationship to age only in the concentric mode of exerci se (r = -0.48; p < 0.01). The cardiocirculatory reaction in endurance stress and isometry, like the behavior of heart rate, blood pressure, and plasma catecholamines, was greatest in concentric exercise, althou gh the maximum strength values were lower, followed by eccentric exerc ise and isometry. Exercise values such as those attained in maximum er gometric forms of exercise were not reached. It is concluded that no s pecial precautionary measures are required in isokinetic forms of exer cise.