TY - JOUR
T1 - Prescribing exercise intensity for older women
AU - Kohrt, Wendy M.
AU - Spina, Robert J.
AU - Holloszy, John O.
AU - Ehsani, Ali A.
PY - 1998/2
Y1 - 1998/2
N2 - OBJECTIVE: For the purpose of prescribing exercise intensity, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) provides guidelines for relating the perceived level of exertion and the heart rate (HR) response during exercise, expressed either as a percentage of maximal HR or of HR reserve, to a percentage of maximal aerobic power (V̇O2max). However, because maximal HR and V̇O2max decline with age, it is possible that these guidelines are not appropriate for an older population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in 60 to 72-year-old women the relationships among the common methods of prescribing exercise intensity. DESIGN: Participants were 112 healthy but sedentary women, aged 66 ± 4 years, who performed treadmill walking at four speeds. SETTING: Subjects were recruited from the community, and exercise tests were performed at a university laboratory facility. MEASUREMENTS: V̇O2max and maximal HR were determined during treadmill walking. The HR and V̇O2 responses to walking 6 minutes at each of four speeds ranging from 67 to 107 m/min, along with ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and plasma lactate levels, were determined on a separate day. RESULTS: The exercise bouts required an average. of 35 ± 10%, 64 ± 12%, 77 ± 12%, and 91 ± 9% of V̇O2max. Corresponding HR values were 64 ± 8%, 70 ± 9%, 81 ± 10%, and 92 ± 7% of maximal HR, and they were within the expected ranges based on ACSM guidelines. HR values as a percentage of HR reserve were much lower than expected based on the guidelines. RPE values were lower than expected at a given %V̇O2max, and plasma lactate levels were also relatively low, suggesting that older women are able to exercise at a higher percentage of V̇O2max than levels currently recommended. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that HR expressed as a percentage of maximal HR is an appropriate method of prescribing exercise intensity in healthy, sedentary 60- to 72-year-old women. The HR reserve method is not recommended in this population because it will likely result in the exercise being performed at a higher than expected percentage of V̇O2max.
AB - OBJECTIVE: For the purpose of prescribing exercise intensity, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) provides guidelines for relating the perceived level of exertion and the heart rate (HR) response during exercise, expressed either as a percentage of maximal HR or of HR reserve, to a percentage of maximal aerobic power (V̇O2max). However, because maximal HR and V̇O2max decline with age, it is possible that these guidelines are not appropriate for an older population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in 60 to 72-year-old women the relationships among the common methods of prescribing exercise intensity. DESIGN: Participants were 112 healthy but sedentary women, aged 66 ± 4 years, who performed treadmill walking at four speeds. SETTING: Subjects were recruited from the community, and exercise tests were performed at a university laboratory facility. MEASUREMENTS: V̇O2max and maximal HR were determined during treadmill walking. The HR and V̇O2 responses to walking 6 minutes at each of four speeds ranging from 67 to 107 m/min, along with ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and plasma lactate levels, were determined on a separate day. RESULTS: The exercise bouts required an average. of 35 ± 10%, 64 ± 12%, 77 ± 12%, and 91 ± 9% of V̇O2max. Corresponding HR values were 64 ± 8%, 70 ± 9%, 81 ± 10%, and 92 ± 7% of maximal HR, and they were within the expected ranges based on ACSM guidelines. HR values as a percentage of HR reserve were much lower than expected based on the guidelines. RPE values were lower than expected at a given %V̇O2max, and plasma lactate levels were also relatively low, suggesting that older women are able to exercise at a higher percentage of V̇O2max than levels currently recommended. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that HR expressed as a percentage of maximal HR is an appropriate method of prescribing exercise intensity in healthy, sedentary 60- to 72-year-old women. The HR reserve method is not recommended in this population because it will likely result in the exercise being performed at a higher than expected percentage of V̇O2max.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0031918577
U2 - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb02528.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb02528.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 9475438
AN - SCOPUS:0031918577
SN - 0002-8614
VL - 46
SP - 129
EP - 133
JO - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
JF - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
IS - 2
ER -