Endurance capacity of trained older aged athletes.

Seven older cyclists (mean age 66.9 years) still engaged in severe endurance training (mean = 8114.3 km year-1) were examined medically, echocardiographically and they underwent a maximal stress test on a bicycle. Mean maximal values were VO2,max = 44.7 ml, Wmax = 261.4 and heart rate = 157.4 beats min-1. The heart volume/max O2-pulse ratio (mean = 46.1) and the TEDD/max O2-pulse ratio (mean = 3.37) were lower compared with age related untrained persons and demonstrate therefore the strong correlation between heart size and function in healthy older aged athletes. Parameters at the anaerobic threshold (lactate concentration 4 mmol l-1) and at the individual anaerobic threshold (lactate concentration 4.08 mmol l-1) showed no significant difference: for heart rate, mean = 133.7; and for W, mean 182.7. The relative oxygen consumption at the anaerobic threshold (mean = 77%/VO2,max) reflect a high endurance capacity of trained old persons, which enables those athletes to outstanding training and competition performance. Derived from that the results show in general the importance of regular endurance training, maintaining an improvement of the cardiovascular system during aging process.