Vo2@75011Rmax and blood pressure responseto progressive treadmill walking in middle-aged women
Atsuko KAGAYA, Sachiko HOMMA, Toshiyuki HOMMA and Sadamasa OGASAWARA*
Twenty-three middle-aged (39-54 years old) women were studied during progressive treadmill walking, consisting of increasing treadmill inclination at a rate of 100 min a ramp until theheart rate reached of the age-predicted maximal heart rate (75oo HRmax). All subjects succeeded in continuing exercise until the heart rate reached the target zone. Systolic blood pressure(SBP) was significantly elevated to 153.9±3.9 mmHg at the end of exercise from a resting value of 132.3±2.7mmHg, although there was no significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP).However, the mean values obtained from subjects in their 30s, 40s and 50s did not differ significant-ly. The oxygen uptake when the heart rate reached 75% FiRmax (Vo, @75% HRmax) was calcu-lated from the Vo2-HR relationship. The average value for the present subjects was 21.43±1.04ml kg' min', which was significantly lower (p=0.001) than previously reported mean values(2838±080 ml kg-1 mim-1) in young women aged 20.8 years.