Comparison of Different Bicycle Ergometer Protocols in Elderly Males

摘要

Physiologic results of three different bicycle ergometer exercise stress test protocols in healthy elderly males were compared in this study. The protocols consisted of 1hyphen;minute, 3hyphen;minute, and continuoushyphen;ramp stage protocols. Twelve male subjects participated in the study lpar;meanplusmn;SD age 69.5plusmn;4 years, height 169.3plusmn;5.6 cm, and weight lpar;77.1plusmn;8.5 kgrpar;. All subjects performed three symptomhyphen;limited maximal exercise stress tests with a 45hyphen;watt increase in work rate every three minutes lpar;3minrpar;, 15 watts every minute lpar;1minrpar;, or one watt every 4 seconds lpar;continuousrpar;. The overall work rate for each subject was identical for all three protocols. Respiratory parameters included peak O2uptake lpar;OV0312;O2maxrpar;, ventilatory threshold lpar;VeTrpar;, peak CO2production lpar;VCO2rpar;, minute ventilation lpar;VErpar;, and O2uptake with respect to work rate lpar;Dgr;OV0312;O2sol;Dgr;WRrpar;, which were measured breath by breath. Analysis of maximal work results revealed that the continuous test produced higher diastolic blood pressures. No other significant differences in maximal work results were observed. Analysis of submaximal data revealed no statistical differences in VeT measurements. Results were compared at 3 submaximal work rates lpar;45, 90, and 135 wattsrpar;. Analysis of results at 45 watts revealed that the continuous protocol produced lower systolic BP lpar;P 0.05rpar;, OV0312;O2, O2pulse, and Dgr;OV0312;O2sol;Dgr;WR lpar;P 0.01rpar; when compared to 3 minutes. The continuous protocol also resulted in lower HR when compared to 1hyphen; and 3hyphen;minute protocols. Analysis at 90 watts revealed the continuous protocol produced lower HR lpar;P 0.05rpar; when compared to 3 minutes, and lower O2pulse, O2uptake, and Dgr;OV0312;O2sol;Dgr;WR lpar;P 0.05rpar; when compared to 3hyphen; and 1hyphen;minute protocols. Comparison of protocols at 135 watts revealed 3 minutes providing higher HR lpar;P 0.05rpar;. No other significant differences were noted. It was concluded that all examined protocols are generally equal in eliciting VeT and maximal cardiorespiratory demand in elderly males. Submaximal analysis revealed the continuous protocol produced a lower cardiorespiratory demand at a given workload.