Janick Masse-Biron

Effects of interval training at the ventilatory threshold on clinical and cardiorespiratory responses in elderly humans

Abstract This study assessed clinical and cardiorespiratory responses after an interval training programme in sedentary elderly adults using the ventilatory threshold (Vth) as the index of exercise training intensity. A selection of 22 subjects were randomized into two groups: 11 subjects served as the training group (TG) and the others as controls (CG). Maximal exercise tests were performed on a treadmill before (T0), each month (T1, T2) and after the 3-month interval training programme period (T3). The TG subjects were individually trained at the heart rate corresponding to Vth measured at T0, T1 and T2 as the breakpoint in the oxygen uptake-carbon dioxide production relationship. Their training programme consisted of walking/jogging sessions on a running track twice a week. The sessions consisted of varying durations of exercise alternating with active recovery in such a way that the subjects slowly increased their total exercise time from an initial duration of 30 min to a final duration of 1 h. During training the heart rate was continuously monitored by a cardiofrequency meter. Compared with the daily activities of the controls, no training programme-related injuries were observed in TG. Moreover, programme adherence (73%) and attendance (97.3%) were high. The maximal oxygen uptake and Vth were increased in TG, by 20% (P<0.05) and 26% (P<0.01), respectively. Interval training at Vth also significantly increased maximal O2 pulse (P<0.05) and maximal ventilation (P<0.01). A significant decrease in submaximal ventilation (P<0.05) and heart rate (P<0.01) was also noted. These results would suggest that for untrained elderly adults, an interval training programme at the intensity of Vth may be well-tolerated clinically and may significantly improve both maximal aerobic power and submaximal exercise tolerance.

Evaluation of quality of life in elderly healthy subjects after aerobic and/or mental training.

This study proposed different techniques of mental rehabilitation to healthy elderly subjects in order to assess the results in terms of subjectively perceived changes in quality of life. Thirty-two elderly subjects (60-76 years) were assigned to one of the four groups: aerobic training, mental training, combined aerobic and mental training and a control group. Before and after 2 months of training, all subjects took two memory tests. After training, a French validated questionnaire of quality of life was administered individually. Memory parameters such as logical memory (P<0.05), paired associated learning (P=0.05) and memory quotient (P=0.01) were enhanced in all groups except the control group, but in terms of quality of life all the elderly subjects were dissatisfied. VO(2max) and ventilatory threshold were significantly improved in the two groups who were engaged in a physical training program (AT and AMT) and these improvements were associated with a better quality of life in the domain of functional life. Association of the two techniques did not enhance the results for cognitive function. In conclusion, despite objective improvement in cognitive function, all subjects reported dissatisfaction in terms of improvement in quality of life, whatever their assigned group. Nevertheless, an improvement in quality of life was acknowledged after aerobic training for the physical component of functional life.

Age and training effects on the lactate kinetics of master athletes during maximal exercise

SummaryTo study the effects of age and training on lactate production in older trained subjects, the lactate kinetics of highly trained cyclists [HT,n = 7; 65 (SEM 1.2) years] and control subjects with low training (LT,n = 7) and of similar age were compared to those of young athletes [YA,n = 7; 26 (SEM 0.7) years], during an incremental exercise test to maximum power. The results showed that the lactacidaemia at maximal oxygen uptake (

Effectiveness of Individualized Aerobic Training at the Ventilatory Threshold in the Elderly

\dot VO_{2 max}

Intensité d'entraînement et aptitude aérobie chez le sujet âgé

) was lower for HT than for LT (P<0.05) and, in both cases, lower than that of YA (P<0.001). The respective values were HT: 3.9 (SEM 0.51), LT: 5.36 (SEM 1.12), and YA: 10.3 (SEM 0.63) mmol·1−1. At submaximal powers, however, the difference in lactacidaemia was not significant between HT and YA, although the values for lactacidaemia at

Hypoxémie d'exercice et adaptation ventilatoire chez l'athlète extrême

\dot VO_{2 max}