Sustained Improvement of Arterial Blood Oxygenation, Maximum Oxygen Consumption and Maximum Walking Distance after Treadmill Training in Healthy Elderly Subjects?

Background. Physical activity is known to play an important role in improving the cardio-pulmonary function and arterial blood oxygenation (SaO2) in elderly subjects. Objective. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of treadmill training on SaO2, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and maximum walking distance in elderly healthy subjects. Design. Intervention study Setting. El Salam General Hospitals, Cairo (Egypt). Participants. Our study included 41 subjects. All participants appeared healthy, without chronic diseases and passed the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test. Intervention. Participants were incorporated in a treadmill-training program of moderate intensity to attain a fraction of 60% to 70% of the maximum heart rate. After 12 weeks of controlled physical activity, the program was made voluntarily for 36 weeks. Measurements. SaO2, VO2 max and maximum walking distance were measured for each individual one-week before and 12 weeks after training and at the 30 th and the 48 th week of the program. Results. Our study included 20 men and 21 women, with mean age of 65.1 + 2.7 years (Range 60-69). An increase in the mean values of SaO2, VO2 max and maximum walking distance after 12 weeks of controlled exercise and also at the 30 th week and the 48 th week of the program (P<0.05). There has been a decrease in the mean values of VO2 max, SaO2 and maximum walking distance after the 30 th and 48 th week in comparison with the values after the first 12 weeks. Conclusion. Controlled treadmill training for 12 weeks improved SaO2, VO2 max and maximum walking distance of the participants. The mean values of the participants decreased after the 30 th and 48 th week due to lack of adherence to the unsupervised program.