Relationship of Heart Rate and Oxygen Uptake Kinetics during Deep Water Running in the Adult Population—Ages 50 to 70 Years

• Published in: Journal of aging and physical activity 1998-07, Vol.6 (3), p.248-255
• Main Authors: Brown, Stanley P., Jordan, Joel C., Chitwood, Linda F., Beason, Kim R., Alvarez, John G., Honea, Kendal P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Females; Heart rate; Older people; Oxygen; Regression analysis; Spirometry; Uptake; Water
• ISSN: 1063-8652; 1543-267X
• DOI: 10.1123/japa.6.3.248

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between heart rate (HR) as a percentage of peak HR and oxygen uptake (V̇O 2 ) as a percentage of peak V̇O 2 in older adults while performing deep water running (DWR). Twenty-three (14 male and 9 female) apparently healthy older adults, age 50 to 70 years, volunteered. Deep water running to V̇O 2peak was performed in 3-min stages at leg speeds controlled by a metronome beginning at 60 strides per minute and increasing 12 strides per minute each additional stage. Oxygen uptake and HR were continuously monitored by open-circuit spirometry and radiotelemetry, respectively. Simple linear regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between the physiological variables. The relationship between %V̇O 2peak and %HR peak was statistically significant, with the male (%V̇O 2peak = 1.5301 [%HR peak ] − 54.4932 [ r = .96, SEE = 6.0%]) and female (%V̇O 2peak = 1.5904 [%HR peak ] - 62.3935 [ r = .91, SEE = 6.9%]) regression equations being significantly different ( p < .05). The regression equations of older adults and those for college-aged males (%VO 2peak = 1.4634 [%HR peak ] − 49.619) and females (%V̇O 2peak = 1.6649 [%HR peak ] − 67.862) were not significantly different.