Improving cardiovascular fitness by strength or endurance training in women aged 76-78 years. A population-based, randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: there have been few population-based, randomized controlled trials on the effects of strength or endurance training on cardiovascular fitness in older women.

Objective: to study the effects of strength or endurance training on cardiovascular fitness in women aged 76-78 years.

Design: a population-based, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: exercise laboratory in a university faculty of sport and health sciences.

Subjects: we randomly assigned 42 medically-screened women aged 76-78 years, drawn from the population register to strength (n=16), endurance (n=15) or control (n=11) groups.

Methods: subjects in the two exercise groups performed a supervised, individually tailored 18-week strength or endurance training programme. Controls continued with physical activity at their normal level.

Results: the strength training group showed an increase in cycle ergometer peak power from 68.1 to 70.3 W (P=0.035 compared with controls). Their peak power per kg body weight increased from 1.02 to 1.05, while that of the endurance training group increased from 0.91 to 0.93 (P=0.027 and P=0.049 respectively). Peak oxygen uptake increased from 18.1 to 19.7 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) in the strength and from 17.1 to 18.2 in the endurance group (non-significant). Six subjects (19%) in the exercise groups withdrew from the study because of health problems.

Conclusions: even with its limitations, the study suggests that the effect of 18-week strength or endurance training on cardiovascular fitness among women aged >/=75 is relatively small. Furthermore, health problems can emerge during training programmes in medically-screened elderly women.