Citation

Sullo A, Brizzi G, Cardinale P, Fabbri B, Maffulli N. Acta Med. (Hradec Kralove) 2004; 47(1): 25-28.

Affiliation

Operative United of Rehabilitation and Care, Lungodegenza Division, ASL AV1, S. Nicola Baronia, Italy. alessiosullo@virgilio.it

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Publisher Karolinum Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15168877

Abstract

To investigate the modification of body composition and level of aerobic capacity in older athletes practicing competitive sport for two years consecutively, 20 elderly male endurance athletes (A) were compared with twenty elderly male subjects who practiced moderate exercise (C). Body composition analysis, physical activity and maximal aerobic power (VO2max) were measured at the beginning of the study, after twelve months and after twenty-four months in both groups. We observed significant differences in group A: body fat was significantly lower in the subjects at the first and second year than at the beginning of the study; fat-free mass (FFM) was significantly higher in the subjects at the first and second year; VO2max in every measurements was significantly higher in the subjects at the at the first and second year than at beginning of the study. Our data suggest that it is possible, even in the elderly, to reach a good level of physical fitness with appropriate training protocols for competitive sport.

Language: en