Resistance and aerobic training in older men: effects onV˙<scp>o</scp> _{2 peak} and the capillary supply to skeletal muscle

Abstract

Hepple, R. T., S. L. M. Mackinnon, J. M. Goodman, S. G. Thomas, and M. J. Plyley. Resistance and aerobic training in older men: effects onV˙o 2 peak and the capillary supply to skeletal muscle. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(4): 1305–1310, 1997.—Both aerobic training (AT) and resistance training (RT) may increase aerobic power (V˙o 2 peak ) in the older population; however, the role of changes in the capillary supply in this response has not been evaluated. Twenty healthy men (age 65–74 yr) engaged in either 9 wk of lower body RT followed by 9 wk of AT on a cycle ergometer (RT→AT group) or 18 wk of AT on a cycle ergometer (AT→AT group). RT was performed three times per week and consisted of three sets of four exercises at 6–12 repetitions maximum. AT was performed three times per week for 30 min at 60–70% heart rate reserve.V˙o 2 peak was increased after both RT and AT ( P &lt; 0.05). Biopsies (vastus lateralis) revealed that the number of capillaries per fiber perimeter length was increased after both AT and RT ( P &lt; 0.05), paralleling the changes in V˙o 2 peak , whereas capillary density was increased only after AT ( P &lt; 0.01). These results, and the finding of a significant correlation between the change in capillary supply and V˙o 2 peak ( r = 0.52), suggest the possibility that similar mechanisms may be involved in the increase ofV˙o 2 peak after high-intensity RT and AT in the older population.