CLINICAL SECTION   

Medicina dello Sport 2003 March;56(1):57-62

Copyright © 2003 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Morphofunctional modification induced by a training protocol in the elderly

Sullo A. ^{1, 2}, Brizzi G. ¹, Meninno V. ¹, Mercadante F. ², Cardinale P. ²

¹ Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Fisiologia, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Napoli; ² Unità Operativa di Riabilitazione e Cura, Divisione di Lungodegenza, Sezione di Medicina dello Sport, ASL 1 di Avellino, Avellino

Objective. The aim of this study is to investigate the modification of body composition and level of aerobic capacity in older athletes induced by a training protocol.
Methods. Twenty elderly male endurance athletes were evaluated before and after a training protocol. Anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis, dietary analysis, physical activity, VO2max were measured.
Results. Physical activity (MET), food intake and VO2max in every measurement were significantly higher in the subjects after the training protocol. Resting heart rate was significantly lower. No significant differences were found for maximal heart rate, body mass index and body fat percentage.
Discussion and conclusions. Our data suggest that it is possible, also in the elderly, to rich a good level of physical fitness with appropriate training protocols for competitive sport.