Endurance Training in Older Women: Maximal and Submaximal Cardiovascular Response

Abstract

Sixteen previously sedentary women (mean age 65) volunteered to train for 12 weeks on a bicycle ergometer to determine changes in oxygen consumption (VO₂), cardiac output (Q), and arteriovenous oxygen difference (a-vO₂dif) at a relative submaximal workload equal to 60% of maximal oxygen consumption (60%-VO₂ max). Maximal assessment of oxygen consumption (VO₂max) and physical work capacity (PWCmax) was also conducted before and after training. VO₂max was increased significantly (13.8%), with 60%-VO₂max increasing proportionately. There was no change in Q at 60%-VO₂max, but a-vO₂dif was increased significantly (15%). The findings indicate that older sedentary women were capable of enhancing cardiovascular capacity and that the improvement in relative submaximal VO₂ was accounted for entirely by augmented peripheral cardiovascular function.