EFFECTS OF WALKING TRAINING ON HEALTH-RELATED FITNESS IN HEALTHY MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS - A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-STUDY

The effects of walking training on (V) over dot O(2)max, serum lipopro teins and plasma fibrinogen were studied in 119 healthy middle-aged pe rsons. Training prescription was 65-75% of (V) over dot O(2)max, 50 mi n/session, four times a week for 15 weeks. The net difference (between pre-posttraining changes in the walking and control group) was statis tically significant for (V) over dot O(2)max (0.141.min(-1), 95% CI 0. 04, 0.23), total cholesterol (-0.20 mmol.l(-1) CI -0.34, -0.06), LDL c holesterol(-0.17 mmol.l(-1), CI -0.29, -0.05), ratio of HDL cholestero l to total cholesterol (0.014, CI 0.005, 0.023), and triglycerides (-0 .15 mmol.l(-1), CI -0.26, -0.04). No statistically significant changes occurred in fibrinogen. The findings indicate that walking training o f moderate intensity resulted in a modest increase in (V) over dot O(2 )max and minor but consistently favorable changes in serum lipoprotein s.