Effect of 6 months of exercise training on cardiovascular responses to head-up tilt in the elderly

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of 6 months of exercise training on cardiovascular responses to 70 degrees head-up tilt (HUT) in the elderly. Forty-four elderly men and women (ages 60-82 years) were assigned to endurance training alone (n = 18), endurance training in combination with selected resistance exercises (n = 17), or to a non-exercising control group (n = 9). Head-up tilt testing at the start (T1) and end (T2) of 26 weeks of training consisted of 30 min of supine rest, 15 min of 70 degrees HUT, and 15 min of supine recovery. Endurance training consisted of uphill treadmill walking or stair climbing exercise 3 times per week, 30-45 min/day, at 75-85% of maximal heart rate reserve. In addition, the endurance/resistance group completed one set of 8-15 repetitions of biceps curl (BC), triceps extension (TE), and leg press, 3 times per week. After 26 weeks, increases in VO2max averaged 16.2% and 12.3% for endurance and endurance/resistance groups, respectively. In addition, the endurance/resistance group increased BC and TE strength by 25.3% and 26.1%, respectively. Results from the HUT test indicated that only the endurance group increased supine resting stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (Q) from T1 to T2; however, SV and Q during HUT were not augmented as a result of training. Training did not affect heart rate, blood pressure, or peripheral resistance responses at rest or during HUT in any of the groups. These results suggest that 6 months of endurance training, alone or in combination with selected resistance exercises, is not detrimental to blood pressure controlling mechanisms to head-up tilt in the elderly.