Cardiovascular response during low intensity step aerobic dance in older subjects

This study examined the cardiovascular response to low-impact step-aerobic dance in older subjects and the appropriateness of low-intensity step-aerobic exercise for cardiorespiratory fitness improvement in this age group. For this purpose, 6 women and 4 men, aged 57.3 ± 5.8 and 60.7 ± 3.1 (mean ± SD) years, respectively, were recruited. Oxygen consumption (VO2), pulmonary ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate were measured directly on each subject during a submaximal treadmill test (85% of age predicted maximal HR) and step-aerobic classes. VO2max was predicted by extrapolation using the HR and VO2 values measured in the submaximal treadmill test. Results showed no significant differences between women and men on any of the variables with the exception of body fat and stature (p < .05). BMI (kg· m2) and body fat (%) values were 27.2 ± 3.8, 25.8 ± 1.9, and 33.4 ± 5, 19.2 ± 4.1 in females and males, respectively. VO2max for the group was 34.1 ± 5.3 ml · kg–1 · min–1. Mean VO2 and HR during the aerobic phase of the step class were 20.7 ± 3 ml · kg–1 · min–1 (61 ± 7.5% of VO2max) and 131 ± 11 beats · min–1 (81 ± 6.2% of HRmax) and mean blood lactate values at the end of the same phase were 2.14 ± 0.7 mMol · L–1. Results showed that the intensity of the examined exercise was within the recommended ranges for cardiorespiratory fitness improvement of 55–90% of HRmax or 50–85% of VO2max.