Aging among elite distance runners: a 22-year longitudinal
study.
Trappe, Scott W., David L. Costill, Matthew D. Vukovich, Jared Jones,
and Thomas Melham.
Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN
47306
APStracts 2:0413A, 1995.
The purpose of this study was to assess the physiological responses of
former elite distance runners during submaximal and maximal exercise
after a mean period of 22 years. Fifty-three men were initially
tested (T1) in the late 1960's and early 1970's when they were all
highly trained and competitive. For the current evaluation (T2) these
men were classified as highly trained (HT; n=10), fitness trained
(FT; n=18), untrained (UT; n=15) and fit older (F0; n=10) depending
upon their continued level of training and age. The mean (+/-SE) age
for the HT, FT, and UT men during T2 were similar (46.5 +/-1.6),
while the FO men were significantly (p<0.05) older (68.4 +/
-2.7). All groups experienced a significant decrease (p<0.05) in
VO2max from T1 to T2. However, this decrease was related to the
amount of training between evaluations. The HT men had the smallest
reduction (6% per decade) in VO2max (68.8 to 59.2 ml x kg-1 x min-1).
The FT men's VO2max was 10% lower per decade (64.1 to 48.9 ml x kg-1
x min-1), while a 15% decrease per decade was observed for the UT
(70.7 to 46.7 ml x kg-1 x min-1) and FO (60.3 to 40.7 ml x kg-1 x
min-1) men despite the continued training of the FO men. Energy
requirements for a standardized run at 12 km x run-1 were similar
from T1 to T2 for the HT and FT men, while the UT men required an
increased (p<0.05) oxygen uptake (40.3 to 41.8 l x min-1),
ventilation (53.7 to 72.7 l x min-1), and heart rate (127 to 142
beats x min-1). The perceived effort and %VO2max for this submaximal
run was greater during T2 for all groups, which was related to the
decline in VO2max. These longitudinal data indicate that after more
than two decades, the physiological capacities of these aging runners
is compromised, regardless of training. These data also confirm
previous cross-sectional findings that aerobic capacity of highly
trained middle-aged men declines 5-7% per decade.
Received 13 March 1995; accepted in final form 5 September 1995.
APS Manuscript Number A274-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 31 October 95