Effect of Aging on the Aerobic Capacity Measured by a Step-test

The purpose of this study was to develop a step-test in order to evaluate age-related change in aerobic capacity. A total of 149 healthy men of age through 18 to 83yrs ascended and descended a single step of 0.2m height in time to a metronome. The step rate increased step-wise through three stages,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNihon Rōnen Igakkai zasshi Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 45 - 51
Main Authors Furuna, Taketo, Ito, Hajime, Nagasaki, Hiroshi, Fujisawa, Akiko, Niimi, Maya, Maruyama, Hitoshi, Kinugasa, Takashi
Format Journal Article
LanguageJapanese
Published Japan The Japan Geriatrics Society 1994
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Aerobic capacity
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - physiology
Aging effect
Exercise Test - methods
Exercise Tolerance
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oxygen Consumption - physiology
Physical Endurance
Step-test
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to develop a step-test in order to evaluate age-related change in aerobic capacity. A total of 149 healthy men of age through 18 to 83yrs ascended and descended a single step of 0.2m height in time to a metronome. The step rate increased step-wise through three stages, each of 3min duration; 15, 20 and 25 (step/min) for subjects aged 59 or less, and 10, 15, and 20 (step/min) for those age 60 and over. Using the linear relationship between load and heart rate, physical work capacity (PWC, watt/kg) was estimated as the work load with maximum heart rate predicted by age (220-age). In the elderly group (n=34), heart rate at the end of the last stage was within 60-80% of the maximum heart rate for 25 subjects, and more than 80% for the other 9 subjects. No risky arrhythmia or significant ST change on ECG appeared in any subject. A retest of the step-test for 16 elderly subjects showed its repeatability and a linear relationship between heart rate and oxygen consumption. The results suggested that the step-test was applicable to the elderly in regard to appropriate work load and safety. The PWC significantly declined with aging (r=0.52, p<0.001). Relative aerobic capacity, taking that at age 20 as 100%, was 60% and 53% for subjects aged 60 and 70, respectively, which was in good agreement with available reports which measured oxygen consumption directly.
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ISSN:0300-9173
DOI:10.3143/geriatrics.31.45