Relationship between VO2peak, VO2 Recovery Kinetics, and Muscle Function in Older Adults

Rhiannon D Healy; Cassandra Smith; Mary N Woessner; Itamar Levinger

doi:10.1159/000533920

Relationship between VO2peak, VO2 Recovery Kinetics, and Muscle Function in Older Adults

Gerontology. 2023;69(11):1278-1283. doi: 10.1159/000533920. Epub 2023 Sep 1.

Authors

Rhiannon D Healy¹, Cassandra Smith², Mary N Woessner¹, Itamar Levinger^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Health and Sport (IHES), Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² Institute for Nutrition Research, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Washington, Australia.
³ Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), University of Melbourne and Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

Introduction: The efficiency of the cardiovascular system to recover following an exercise bout is measured by oxygen (VO2) recovery kinetics. In older adults with a chronic disease, a higher aerobic capacity (VO2peak) and faster VO2 recovery kinetics are associated with higher muscle strength and physical capacity. Yet, this relationship in healthy older adults remains unclear. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether a higher VO2peak and faster VO2 recovery kinetics are associated with higher muscle strength and physical performance in healthy community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Thirty-five healthy older adults (female 25/male 10, mean age 73 ± 6 years) performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer. VO2peak and VO2 recovery kinetics were assessed through gas exchange analysis. Muscle strength was determined by maximal leg (one-repetition maximum on leg press; 1RM) and grip strength, and physical performance was determined by the physical performance test (PPT) which assessed gait speed, stair ascent and descent, and timed up-and-go.

Results: Higher VO2peak was associated with stronger leg (r = 0.59, p < 0.001) and grip strength (r = 0.39, p < 0.03), but no relationship to PPT (p > 0.05). There was also no relationship between VO2 recovery kinetics and leg and grip strength or PPT (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: In healthy community-dwelling older adults, VO2peak, but not VO2 recovery kinetics, is associated with muscle strength. This suggests that muscle strength may be an important factor related to aerobic capacity that could assist in identifying older adults who should be prioritized for resistance training.

Keywords: Muscle strength; Older adult; Oxygen kinetics.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise Test
Exercise* / physiology
Female
Humans
Male
Muscle Strength* / physiology
Muscles
Oxygen Consumption

Grants and funding

This study was partly funded by the Tom Penrose Community Service Award from Exercise and Sport Science Australia and a seed grant from AIMSS. The salary of CS is supported by A/Prof Joshua Lewis’s National Heart Foundation of Australia Future Leader Fellowship (ID: 102817). The grants awarded to this trial did not have any role in or contribution to the design of the study and the collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data; the grants awarded to this trial will not contribute to the writing of any associated manuscripts.