Physiological Analysis of Middle-Aged and Old Former Athletes

Abstract

SUMMARYBlood lipids, red cell volume, heart volume, dynamic spirometry, electrocardiograms made at rest and during exercise, and maximal oxygen uptake were determined in 29 former athletes 45 to 70 years old. The subjects had been very successful competitors in endurance events before the age of 30, but for at least 10 years preceding this study had been sedentary.Maximal oxygen uptake averaged 40 ml/kg/min which is 20% higher than that of sedentary middle-aged men but 25% lower than that of still active athletes of the same ages. Vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, and maximal voluntary ventilation showed normal values. Heart volume was large in relation to maximal oxygen uptake and was of the same magnitude as in still active athletes. Red cell volume was also large in relation to maximal oxygen uptake, but normal in relation to the body weight. Cholesterol in serum averaged 260 mg/ 100 ml. Values for neutral fat averaged 1.6 mM, which was higher than that for still active athletes.In the athletes still active, the frequency of S-T changes was as common as in unselected healthy old men but in the former athletes the frequency was reduced. This was also true for the frequency of right bundle-branch block, ST-junction elevation and high T waves. Additional Indexing Words:Maximal oxygen uptake ECG c Heart volume Red cell volume I N A GROUP of well-trained and still competing middle-aged and old athletes, high aerobic work powers (maximal oxygen uptake) and large heart volumes were found.1 This was a highly selected group of men who had trained continuously for at least 20 years and still trained and competed in "orienteering" (cross-country track finding) and skiing.

Effect of aerobic training on ventilatory muscle endurance of spinal cord injured men

“…habitual exercise at least 3 h/week). 13 Spirometric, MVV-12sec and 70%-MVV time values in the initial evaluation for both groups are reported on Table 1. We found a signi®cant reduction in Group I for all studied variables, with exception of FEV 1 /FVC ratio.…”

“…The following questions were asked and recorded by the investigator: (1) level of habitual physical activity (Saltin and Grimsby questionnaire, modi®ed); 13 (2) etiology and time since injury; (3) actual or past illnesses or interventions; (4) smoking history.…”

Association Between Screen-Detected Gallstone Disease and Cancer in a Cohort Study

“…38 The self-reported spare time physical activity level was divided into 4 levels, of which a sedentary level was defined as being almost completely inactive, a light activity level as walking or biking at least 4 hours per week, a moderate activity level as heavy gardening or sports for at least 3 hours per week, and a vigorous physical activity level was defined as competitive sports performed several times a week. 39 Moderate and vigorous physical activity levels were combined for the sake of this study. Social group was defined according to the 5-level definition from The Danish National Centre for Social Research, based on the participant's education and occupation, with level I indicating the highest social group; this was included as a dichotomized variable in the models (group…”

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