Effects of low- and high-intensity home-based exercise training on functional capacity in healthy middle-aged men

doi:10.1016/0002-9149(86)90770-8

The American Journal of Cardiology

Volume 57, Issue 6, 15 February 1986, Pages 446-449

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9149(86)90770-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

The effects of 12 weeks of home-based exercise training on peak oxygen consumption (VO₂ max) in healthy sedentary middle-aged men, mean age 49 ± 6 years, were evaluated. Twenty-one men trained at low intensity, 23 trained at high intensity and 20 were control subjects. Individually prescribed low- and high-intensity training was performed 5 times per week within a range of 42 to 60% and 63 to 81% of baseline VO₂ max, corresponding to average heart rates of 102 to 122 and 128 to 148 beats/min, respectively. Caloric expenditure per training session approximated 350 kcal in both groups; adherence was at least 90% in both groups. VO₂ max increased 8% in patients who trained at low intensity, 17% in those who trained at high intensity (both p < 0.001), and not at all in control subjects. Low-intensity exercise training at home significantly augments functional capacity in healthy sedentary middle-aged men.

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Citation Excerpt :
A few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of aerobic exercise training showed that high-intensity exercise (≥70% VO2 reserve) was associated with a significantly increased circulating BDNF level and cognitive function in healthy individuals of different ages [13,14]. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been used as a therapeutic strategy to improve aerobic capacity in recent clinical practice [15] and is characterized by alternating periods of exercise at ≥ 80% of one's VO2peak with less intense recovery periods (40–50% of VO2peak) [16]. Evidence from RCTs showed that aerobic capacity and serum BDNF level improved quickly after a single HIIT bout in stroke survivors [17].
Physiological adaptations of stroke patients after high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) remain unclear.
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We included 23 stroke patients with age about 55 years and stroke duration > 24 months; participants completed 36 sessions of exercise training for 30 min; 13 were randomly assigned to perform MICT at 60% of peak oxygen consumption (VO_2peak) and 10 to perform HIIT at alternating 80% (3 min) and 40% (3 min) VO_2peak. Before and after interventions, we evaluated VO_2peak, peak CO, arteriovenous oxygen difference (AV O_2diff), bilateral frontal cortex oxygenation (relative changes of oxyhemoglobin Δ[O₂Hb], deoxyhemoglobin Δ[HHb], and total hemoglobin Δ[THb] levels), serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level, and fluorescent cell staining for neuron morphology and percentage of cell-bearing neurites (% neurites).
HIIT induced significant increases in VO_2peak (P = 0.008), CO (P = 0.038), Δ[HHb] (P = 0.046), Δ[THb] (P = 0.046), and serum BDNF level (P = 0.012). The improvement in VO_2peak was significantly greater with HIIT than MICT (20.7% vs. 9.8%, P = 0.031), as was AV O_2diff (P = 0.041), Δ[HHb] (P = 0.027), and serum BDNF level (P < 0.001). HIIT facilitated neuron dendritic protrusions (greater % neurites, P = 0.012) with prominent redistribution of mitochondria.
As compared with MICT, HIIT-improved aerobic capacity by increasing systemic tissue O₂ extraction in stroke patients. Increased cerebral O₂ utilization in the involved hemisphere was also identified after HIIT. These physiological adaptations may be associated with increased serum BDNF level. In vitro dendritic growth in neurons treated with serum from HIIT participants may imply significant effects on neuron activities as compared with MICT.
NCT04135391.
Effect of short-term exercise intervention on cardiovascular functions and quality of life of chronic heart failure patients: A meta-analysis
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Citation Excerpt :
VO2 max was significantly increased by aerobic exercise and aerobic with resistance exercise. Some studies found that aerobic and resistance exercise showed different changes in the cardiovascular system.38 There was a significant difference in CO prior to and after exercise intervention.
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Aerobic exercise and aerobic with resistance exercise can significantly improve the aerobic capacity of CHF patients, whereas resistance exercise cannot. The improvement in aerobic capacity caused by aerobic exercise and aerobic with resistance exercise decreases with age. Systolic blood pressure and ventricle structures and functions of CHF patients show no significant changes after the short-term exercise intervention.
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2015, Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Citation Excerpt :
The adoption of daily, habitual physical activity can result in a meaningful increase in cardiorespiratory fitness level (37). Fitness may also be increased through exercise training programs of various intensities (38). As such, cardiorespiratory fitness represents both an objective measure of physical activity and an important modifiable risk factor that is amenable to evidence-based interventions (39).
Low cardiovascular risk factor burdens in middle age are associated with lower health care costs in later life. However, there are few data regarding the effect of cardiorespiratory fitness on health care costs independent of these risk factors.
This study sought to evaluate the association of health care costs in later life with cardiorespiratory fitness in midlife after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors.
We studied 19,571 healthy individuals in the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study who underwent cardiorespiratory fitness assessment at a mean age of 49 years and received Medicare coverage from 1999 to 2009 at an average age of 71 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated by maximal metabolic equivalents (METs) calculated from treadmill time. The primary outcome was average annual health care costs obtained from Medicare standard analytical files.
Over 126,388 person-years of follow-up, average annual health care costs were significantly lower for participants aged 65 years or older with high midlife fitness than with low midlife fitness in both men ($7,569 vs. $12,811; p < 0.001) and women ($6,065 vs. $10,029; p < 0.001). In a generalized linear model adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors, average annual health care costs in later life were incrementally lower per MET achieved in midlife in men (6.8% decrease in costs per MET achieved; 95% confidence interval: 5.7% to 7.8%; p < 0.001) and women (6.7% decrease in costs per MET achieved; 95% confidence interval: 4.1% to 9.3%; p < 0.001). These associations persisted when participants were separated into those who died during Medicare follow-up and those who survived.
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To determine the separate effects of exercise intensity and amount on interindividual cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) response.
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For a fixed amount of exercise, increasing exercise intensity consistent with consensus recommendations eliminated CRF nonresponse. Low-intensity exercise may not be sufficient to improve CRF for a substantial proportion of sedentary obese adults.
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Citation Excerpt :
Accordingly, options should be extended so that low-risk patients with myocardial ischemia can enroll in a home-based program. Such programs have been shown to be as effective as center-based programs and may encourage better adherence, particularly in older patients and those who do not have easy access to structured programs,35,52-55 or if there is an extended duration between hospital discharge and initiation of an outpatient program, when insurance coverage may no longer apply.56 Home-based programs added to cardiac rehabilitation programs increase exercise frequency.
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^☆: This work was supported by a grant from the PepsiCo Foundation, Purchase, New York.

¹: Dr. Gossard is sponsored by a fellowship from the Canadian Heart Foundation.

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Effects of low- and high-intensity home-based exercise training on functional capacity in healthy middle-aged men☆

Abstract

Comput Biomed Res

Lancet

Physical activity assessment methodology in the Five-City Project

Am J Epidemiol

The quantification of endurance training programs

The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining fitness in health adults

Med Sci Sports

Effects of high- and low-intensity exercise training on aerobic capacity and blood lipids

Med Sci Sports Exerc