Aerobic training in the 'oldest old': the effect of 24 weeks of training

Objective: to determine the effects of aerobic training on the maximal aerobic power of healthy, very elderly people. Design: a 12-week control period followed by 24 weeks of progressive, weight bearing, aerobic training. Subjects: 26 men and women aged 79 to 91 years conforming to pre-determined health criteria. Methods: we took measurements before and after a 12 week control period and following 24 weeks of training. These were maximal aerobic power (VO(2)max), heart rate at an oxygen consumption of 10 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) (HR at VO(2)10), resting heart rate, isometric knee extensor strength, isometric elbow flexor strength and lower limb extensor power. Main results: pre-control values of VO(2)max for the women and men were 14.1 (SD 2.79) and 22.0 (5.12) ml.kg(-1).min(-1) respectively. There was no significant change in the VO(2)max of either group over the control period. After training, there was a 15% increase in the VO(2)max of the women (P<0.01) but no change was observed in the men. In the women, there was no significant change in HR at VO(2)10 over the control period but a 14% decrease (P<0.01) after training. In the men there was a 7% (P<0.05) increase in HR at VO(2)10 over the control period and a 5% (P<0.05) decrease after training. No effect of training was seen on isometric knee extensor strength, isometric elbow flexor strength or lower limb extensor power of either group. Conclusion: progressive aerobic training can increase the maximal aerobic power of very elderly women. A 15% increase in VO(2)max may prevent many elderly women from crossing functionally important thresholds, thereby helping to maintain independence.