A longitudinal assessment of change in VO2max and maximal heart rate in master athletes

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the longitudinal change in (V) over dotO(2max) and HRmax in male and female master endurance runners and to compare these changes based upon gender, age, and change in training volume. Methods: Eighty-six male (53.9 +/- 1.1 yr) and 49 female (49.1 +/- 1.2 yr) master endurance runners were tested an average of 8.5 yr apart. Subjects were grouped by age at first visit, change in and change in training volume. Measurements included body composition by hydrostatic weighing, maximal exercise testing on a treadmill, and training history by questionnaire. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and multiple regression. Results: (V) over dotO(2max) and HRmax declined significantly regardless of gender or age group (P < 0.05). The rate of change in (V) over dotO(2max) by age group ranged from -1% to -4.6% per year for men and -0.5% to 2.4% per year for women. Men with the greatest loss in (V) over dotO(2max) had the greatest loss in LBM (-2.8 +/- 0.7 kg), whereas women with the greatest loss in (V) over dotO(2max) demonstrated the greatest change in training volume (-24.1 +/- 3.0 km.wk(-1)). Additionally, women with the greatest loss in (V) over dotO(2max) (-9.6 +/- 2.6 mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) did not replace estrogen after menopause independent of age. HRmax change did not differ by (V) over dotO(2max) change or training volume change in either gender. Conclusions: In conclusion, these data suggest that (V) over dotO(2max) declines in male and female master athletes at a rate similar to or greater than that expected in sedentary older adults. Additionally, these data suggest that maintenance of LBM and (V) over dotO(2max) were associated in men, whereas in women, estrogen replacement and maintenance of training volume were associated with maintained (V) over dotO(2max).