Maximal oxygen uptake, muscle strength and walking speed in 85-year-old women: Effects of increased physical activity

This study explores the effect of regular training on blood pressure, maxim al oxygen uptake, maximal isometric muscle strength, and walking speed in t he very old. A total of 55 community-dwelling women, 85-year-old, were enro lled in a training group (N = 22) or a control group (N = 33). These groups were reduced to 19 and 26 subjects, respectively, after the training perio d. Training was performed once a week over eight months, and consisted of v arious exercises with particular attention to movements important for every day activities. Training reduced diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), and s howed a similar trend for systolic blood pressure. Measurements of maxi mal oxygen uptake before the start of the training (15 mL min(-1) kg(-1)) reve aled a level close to the presumed limit for independent living (13 mL min( -1) kg(-1)). Training improved VO2 max by 18% (p < 0.05), whereas the contr ol group experienced a trend towards a reduction. Maximal isometric muscle strength of both the right and left leg showed a tendency to increase with training, but no significant changes were evident in the trunk flexor and e xtensor muscles. The training group showed a significant increase of 17% in maximal walking speed after the training period. However, one year later, without training, this improvement was reduced to 8% (p < 0.05). No major c hanges were observed in the control group for any of these parameters. This study demonstrates a maximal oxygen capacity in very old community-dwellin g women close to a threshold level indicating dependency. Furthermore, 8 mo nths of regular training appears to lower blood pressure, and to increase m aximal oxygen uptake and maximal walking speed. This suggests that physical reactivation of the very old may reduce the risk for acquiring age-related diseases associated with an elevated blood pressure, and may improve param eters crucial for independence. (C) 2000, Editrice Kurtis.