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PubMed2001

[Fat loading test: biochemical criteria and informative value of the physical endurance assessment].

Biochemical criteria of the fat loading test (FLT) were established and the search for interrelations between FLT biochemical variables and physiological parameters of dynamic physical testing (bicycle ergometry) was conducted in the experiment with participation of male volunteers. Relative gain in glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol concentrations in blood, atherogenicity factor and insulin decrease after 3-hr FLT and reduction in blood concentrations of total cholesterol, insulin, hydrocortisone and testosterone after 9-hr FLT were ranked as reliable criteria. Rise in blood glucose and decrease in blood insulin after 3-hr FLT, and decrease in serum testosterone after 9-hr FLT were found to have prognostic value. Correlation between the FLT biochemical variables and physiological parameters as well as the package of regression analysis equations allow prediction for physical endurance. Yet, analysis of the correlation suggested that desensitization to insulin of the cell membrane cells should be a pathogenic mechanism of physical endurance decrement.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2002

Does oral creatine supplementation improve strength? A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Oral creatine is the most widely used nutritional supplement among athletes. Our purpose was to investigate whether creatine supplementation increases maximal strength and power in healthy adults. STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis of existing literature. DATA SOURCES: We searched MEDLINE (1966-2000) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (through June 2001) to locate relevant articles. We reviewed conference proceedings and bibliographies of identified studies. An expert in the field was contacted for sources of unpublished data. Randomized or matched placebo controlled trials comparing creatine supplementation with placebo in healthy adults were considered. OUTCOMES MEASURED: Presupplementation and postsupplementation change in maximal weight lifted, cycle ergometry sprint peak power, and isokinetic dynamometer peak torque were measured. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were identified for inclusion. The summary difference in maximum weight lifted was 6.85 kg (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.24-8.47) greater after creatine than placebo for bench press and 9.76 kg (95% CI, 3.37-16.15) greater for squats; there was no difference for arm curls. In 7 of 10 studies evaluating maximal weight lifted, subjects were young men (younger than 36 years) engaged in resistance training. There was no difference in cycle ergometer or isokinetic dynamometer performance. CONCLUSIONS: Oral creatine supplementation combined with resistance training increases maximal weight lifted in young men. There is no evidence for improved performance in older individuals or women or for other types of strength and power exercises. Also, the safety of creatine remains unproven. Therefore, until these issues are addressed, its use cannot be universally recommended.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1991

Blood pressure response to exercise in normotensives and hypertensives.

Hypertensive patients have lower cardiac outputs and stroke volumes, higher heart rates, and a markedly higher peripheral resistance than normotensive individuals at the same intensity of exercise. Even patients with mildly elevated resting blood pressures have a markedly increased myocardial oxygen demand during exercise; since demand is determined not only by the pressure load but also by the degree of ventricular hypertrophy, three therapeutic inferences may be drawn: (a) Endurance training offers hypertensive patients a means of lowering exercise heart rate, reducing the systolic blood pressure and myocardial oxygen consumption, and also improving physical work capacity. (b) Besides avoiding isometric exercise, due to possible excessive peaks of blood pressure, all patients should be evaluated by ergometric testing before beginning an exercise training programme. (c) If ergometry reveals a marked rise in blood pressure at low levels of exertion, then appropriate antihypertensive medication (beta-blockers, calcium antagonists) should be prescribed prior to training.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

PubMed1991

Ventilatory threshold and work efficiency on a bicycle and paddling ergometer in top canoeists.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of increasing specific (paddling ergometer) and non-specific (bicycle ergometer) work load on the parameters at the ventilatory threshold (VT) and on work efficiency (WE) during increasing exercise ergometry. When highly trained male canoeists were given an unspecific exercise load, the values of %VO2max at VT were close to the values characteristic for an untrained population (72.3 +/- 5.3% VO2max). When the same subjects were given a specific work load, they produced values typical for highly trained athletes (83.4 +/- 2.5% VO2max). Non-specific exercise produced WE values close to those of untrained subjects on the bicycle ergometer (23.3 +/- 2.1%), and when loading is specific, the groups of working muscles are smaller, producing lower WE values (14.7 +/- 3.5%). It was concluded that the responses to submaximal exercise intensities in the case of nonspecific loading suggests caution in the interpretation of physiological variables which may be sensitive to training status. The assessment of VT and WE as supplementary characteristics during laboratory measurements, enables us, along with other parameters, to ascertain not only the effectiveness of the training process used, but also the specificity of a loading apparatus.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1994

[The history and clinical importance of cardiopulmonary assessment of working fitness with special reference to spiroergometry].

Spiroergometry-a synonym for ergospirometry or ergospirography - is a diagnostic procedure to continuously registrate respiration and gas metabolism during ergometer exercise. It enables to judge function and performance capacity of the cardiopulmonary system and metabolism. Spiroergometry is made up of the two components spirometry and ergometry. The first attempts to measure human gas metabolism while performing a quantified physical work can be traced back to the year 1789. The development of procedures to measure gas metabolism and respiration as well as the construction of ergometers in the 19th and 20th century are described. 1929 saw the introduction of spiroergometry and routinely performed clinical performance diagnosis. But not until the 1950s was the first spiroergometric apparatus which met all scientific requirements developed. In a historical frame, the used parameters and the physiological and pathophysiological findings by spiroergometry are given. Numerous medical fields have profited from the technique of spiroergometry: cardiology, pulmonology, sports medicine, performance physiology, biochemistry, clinical pharmacology, surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, gerontology, etc. besides such global disciplines as preventive medicine, exercise therapy, and rehabilitative medicine.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed1993

[Relation of angiographic changes to clinical data and risk factors in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans].

The arteriographical changes of 66 patients with peripheral arterial obliterative disease and the relationship between the observed alterations and certain clinical and laboratory data as well as some risk factors were analysed. A score system was used to quantify the arteriosclerotic lesions. The arterial alterations of the examined 90 extremities were studied in the pelvic (common and external iliac arteries), femoral (common, superficial, deep femoral and popliteal arteries) and crural (anterior and posterior tibial arteries) regions. Pathomorphological changes in 433 of the investigated 720 arteries were shown, from among them plaque in 11.8%, stenosis in 22.3%, total occlusion in 26% were proved. Most frequently (89%) the superficial femoral artery was affected. As to the single vessels, the superficial femoral and posterior tibial arteries, while among the zones the femoral region proved to be most serious radiologically. The degree and extent of vessel lesions were related to age. The morphological severity was basically concordant with the results of clinical investigations (walking distance, ergometry, Doppler index). The separately examined risk factors (smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia) were not related consequently to the radiological changes, but in certain combinations, as heavy smoking with hypertension and heavy smoking with diabetes, the relationship proved to be statistically significant.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Peak and submaximal physiologic responses following electrical stimulation leg cycle ergometer training.

Eight males with spinal cord injury (SCI) participated in an exercise training program using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) leg cycle ergometry. Each subject completed a minimum of 24 (mean +/- SD = 38.1 +/- 17.2) 30-minute training sessions over a 19-week period. The initial work rate (WR) of 0 watts (W) of unloaded cycling was increased when appropriate with subjects exercising at 11.4 +/- 3.7 W (range = 6.1 W-18.3 W) at the end of the training program. Randomized block repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare pretraining and posttraining peak physiologic responses during graded NMES leg cycle tests and subpeak physiologic responses during 10 minutes of NMES leg cycle exercise at an absolute WR (0 W). A significant (P < or = 0.05) increase was observed for peak VO2; (+10%, 1.29 +/- 0.30 to 1.42 +/- 0.39 1.min-1). No other statistically significant differences were noted for any other peak variable (VCO2, VO2 ml.kg-1 min-1, VE, WR, HR, RER) pre- to posttraining. During submaximal NMES leg cycle testing, a significant decrease was noted for RER (-9.2%, 1.19 +/- 0.14 to 1.08 +/- 0.09). No other submaximal variable (VO2 1.min-1, ml.kg-1.min-1, VCO2, HR, VE) showed significant changes as a result of the training. Although the improvement in peak VO2 was not as dramatic as those reported in previous studies, it appears that NMES leg cycle training performed two times per week can significantly enhance cardiorespiratory fitness.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Exercise-enhanced preoxygenation increases protection from decompression sickness.

INTRODUCTION: Prevention of decompression sickness (DCS) during exposure to altitude equivalents of 30,000 ft (9144 m) requires extensive denitrogenation. In preparation for extravehicular activity (EVA), present NASA policy is to denitrogenate using a 10.2 psia staged decompression of the entire shuttle for at least 12 h, including 100 min of preoxygenation (breathing 100% oxygen at 14.7 psia prior to decompression), before decompression to the 4.3 psia (30,000 ft; 9144 m) suit pressure. This staged decompression provides the same or better protection from DCS as a 3.5- or 4-h preoxygenation used on earlier Shuttle EVA's. For high altitude reconnaissance flights at similar cockpit altitudes, a 1-h preoxygenation is currently required. METHODS: We have investigated the use of a 1-h and a 15-min preoxygenation period, each beginning with 10 min of dual-cycle ergometry performed at 75% of each subject's peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) to enhance preoxygenation efficiency by increasing perfusion and ventilation. Male subjects accomplished a 1-h preoxygenation with exercise, a 15-min preoxygenation with exercise, or a 1-h resting preoxygenation before exposure to 4.3 psia for 4 h while performing light to moderate exercise. RESULTS: Incidence of DCS following the 1-h preoxygenation with exercise (42%; n = 26) was significantly less than that following the 1-h resting preoxygenation (77%; n = 26). Incidence and onset of DCS following the 15-min preoxygenation with exercise (64%; n = 22) was not significantly different from the incidence following the 1-h resting control. CONCLUSION: Preoxygenation with exercise has been shown to provide significantly improved DCS protection when compared with resting preoxygenation.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Effect of strenuous exercise on agonist-induced platelet cytosolic calcium in man.

Hypertension, which is attenuated by regular aerobic exercise, is associated with an increase in cytosolic platelet calcium [Ca+2]i. How aerobic exercise might lower blood pressure is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that exercise would influence the agonist-induced effect on platelet cytosolic calcium [Ca+2]i. Twenty, healthy normotensive men between 20 and 60 years of age (five per decade) were studied while resting supine for 30 min and after bicycle ergometry at a work load sufficient to achieve a heart rate of 200 beats per min minus age in years. On the next day, the protocol was repeated with the subjects exercising at 75% their maximum heart rate for 6 min. Venous blood was obtained from an indwelling cannula. Exercise had no effect on total or ionised serum calcium values. Adrenaline values increased from 0.2 +/- 0.03 to 0.55 +/- 0.1 (s.e.m.) nmol/l (P < 0.05), while noradrenaline increased from 1.46 +/- 0.18 to 4.72 +/- 0.44 nmol/l (P < 0.05). Resting platelet [Ca+2]i concentrations were 95.4 +/- 3.9 and 94.4 +/- 3.0 nmol/l on the two study days. The values were not correlated with age or level of fitness. The platelet [Ca+2]i was 99.2 +/- 4.2 nmol/l after exercise, not different from the resting values. Platelet activation with adrenaline and thrombin across a wide range of doses resulted in prompt increases in [Ca+2]i, which were 50% less in platelets after exercise than at rest (P < 0.05). Activation with angiotensin (Ang) II, on the other hand, was less pronounced and less clearly influenced by exercise. We conclude that exercise influences the platelet activation state and reactivity. The decreased [Ca+2]i responses to adrenaline and thrombin suggest that [Ca+2]i stores were in part depleted at exercise compared to rest, an effect not observed with Ang II perhaps because of the smaller number of Ang II-operative receptors on platelets.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The starting dose of levothyroxine in primary hypothyroidism treatment: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of hypothyroidism with levothyroxine is effective and simple; however, recommendations for the starting dose vary considerably. To our knowledge, the levothyroxine starting dose has never been studied prospectively. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial that compared a full starting levothyroxine dose of 1.6 mug/kg with a low starting dose of 25 mug (increased every 4 weeks) in patients with newly diagnosed cardiac asymptomatic hypothyroidism. Safety was studied by documenting cardiac symptoms and events, and efficacy was studied by monitoring thyrotropin and free thyroxine levels and by assessing improvement of signs and symptoms and quality of life. RESULTS: Seventy-five consecutive patients were enrolled, of whom 50 underwent randomization. At baseline, the severity of hypothyroidism and age were comparable in the full-dose (n = 25) vs the low-dose group (n = 25): thyrotropin, 61 vs 48 mIU/L; free thyroxine, 0.56 vs 0.64 ng/dL (7.2 vs 8.2 pmol/L); and age, 47 vs 47 years. No cardiac complaints or events were documented during treatment or at bicycle ergometry at baseline, 12 weeks, or 24 weeks. Euthyroidism was reached in the full-dose vs the low-dose group in 13 vs 1 (4 weeks), 19 vs 3 (8 weeks), 19 vs 9 (12 weeks), 20 vs 14 (16 weeks), 20 vs 18 (20 weeks), and 21 vs 20 (24 weeks) patients (P = .005). However, signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and quality of life improved at a comparable rate. CONCLUSION: A full starting dose of levothyroxine in cardiac asymptomatic patients with primary hypothyroidism is safe and may be more convenient and cost-effective than a low starting dose regimen.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Pathophysiological characterization of isolated diastolic heart failure in comparison to systolic heart failure.

CONTEXT: Many older patients with symptoms of congestive heart failure have a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, the pathophysiology of this disorder, presumptively termed diastolic heart failure (DHF), is not well characterized and it is unknown whether it represents true heart failure. OBJECTIVE: To assess the 4 key pathophysiological domains that characterize classic heart failure by systematically performing measurements in older patients with presumed DHF and comparing these results with those from age-matched healthy volunteers and patients with classic systolic heart failure (SHF). DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational clinical investigation conducted in 1998 in a general community and teaching hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 147 subjects aged at least 60 years. Fifty-nine had isolated DHF defined as clinically presumed heart failure, LVEF of at least 50%, and no evidence of significant coronary, valvular, or pulmonary disease. Sixty had typical SHF (LVEF < or =35%). Twenty-eight were age-matched healthy volunteer controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Left ventricular structure and function, exercise capacity, neuroendocrine function, and quality of life. RESULTS: By echocardiography, mean (SE) LVEF was 60% (2%) in patients with DHF vs 31% (2%) in those with SHF and 54% (2%) in controls. Mean (SE) LV mass-volume ratio was markedly increased in patients with DHF (2.12 [0.14] g/mL) vs those with SHF (1.22 [0.14] g/mL) (P<.001) and vs controls (1.49 [0.17] g/mL) (P =.002). Peak oxygen consumption by expired gas analysis during cycle ergometry was similar in the DHF and SHF groups (14.2 [0.5] and 13.1 [0.5] mL/kg per minute, respectively; P =.40) and in both was markedly reduced compared with healthy controls (19.9 [0.7] mL/kg per minute) (P =.001 for both). Ventilatory anaerobic threshold was similar in the DHF and SHF groups (9.1 [0.3] and 8.7 [0.3] mL/kg per minute, respectively; P<.001) and in both was reduced compared with healthy controls (11.5 [0.4] mL/kg per minute) (P<.001). Norepinephrine levels were similar in the DHF (306 [64] pg/mL) and SHF (287 [62] pg/mL) groups (P =.56) and in both were markedly increased vs healthy controls (169 [80] pg/mL) (P =.007 and.03, respectively). Brain natriuretic peptide was substantially increased in both the DHF (56 [30] pg/mL) and the SHF (154 [28] pg/mL) groups compared with healthy controls (3 [38] pg/mL) (P =.02 and.001, respectively). Quality-of-life decrement score as assessed by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire was substantially increased from the benchmark score of 10 in both groups (SHF: 43.8 [3.9]; DHF: 24.8 [4.4]). CONCLUSION: Patients with isolated DHF have similar though not as severe pathophysiologic characteristics compared with patients with typical SHF, including severely reduced exercise capacity, neuroendocrine activation, and impaired quality of life.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Physical work capacity in diabetic children and adolescents with and without cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of autonomic nervous system dysfunction on work capacity in children and adolescents with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. Fifteen patients with autonomic dysfunction (abnormal autonomic tests, age: 14.9 +/- 2.3 years), 35 patients without autonomic dysfunction (normal autonomic tests, age: 15.2 +/- 2.5 years), and 25 non-diabetic subjects (age:15.0 +/- 2.3 years) were investigated. Resting heart rate, deep breathing heart rate variation, standing/lying heart rate ratio, decrease in blood pressure during orthostasis, and increase in blood pressure during sustained handgrip were used to assess cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. Physical work capacity at heart rate of 170 min-1 was determined by bicycle ergometry. Glycated haemoglobin level was higher in patients with than without autonomic dysfunction (12.3 +/- 3.1 vs 9.4 +/- 2.9%, p = 0.04). Patients with autonomic dysfunction had significantly lower physical work capacity at heart rate of 170 min-1 than those with normal autonomic function or non-diabetic subjects (0.81 +/- 0.12 vs 1.49 +/- 0.16 and 1.54 +/- 0.20 W kg-1 p = 0.01). Physical work capacity at heart rate of 170 min-1 was related to glycated haemoglobin level (r = -0.55, p = 0.01), to resting heart rate (r = 0.57, p = 0.01), and to deep breathing heart rate variation (r = 0.51, p = 0.02). In conclusion, impaired work capacity is associated with poor blood glucose control and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. Autonomic tests can help to identify those patients who may need special consideration during exercise.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

A randomized, controlled trial of creatine monohydrate in patients with mitochondrial cytopathies.

Fatigue in patients with mitochondrial cytopathies is associated with decreased basal and postactivity muscle phosphocreatine (PCr). Creatine monohydrate supplementation has been shown to increase muscle PCr and high-intensity power output in healthy subjects. We studied the effects of creatine monohydrate administration (5 g PO b.i.d. x 14 days --> 2 g PO b.i.d. x 7 days) in 7 mitochondrial cytopathy patients using a randomized, crossover design. Measurements included: activities of daily living (visual analog scale); ischemic isometric handgrip strength (1 min); basal and postischemic exercise lactate; evoked and voluntary contraction strength of the dorsiflexors; nonischemic, isometric, dorsiflexion torque (NIDFT, 2 min); and aerobic cycle ergometry with pre- and post-lactate measurements. Creatine treatment resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) increased handgrip strength, NIDFT, and postexercise lactate, with no changes in the other measured variables. We concluded that creatine monohydrate increased the strength of high-intensity anaerobic and aerobic type activities in patients with mitochondrial cytopathies but had no apparent effects upon lower intensity aerobic activities.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prediction of physical activity and physical work capacity (PWC150) in young adulthood from childhood and adolescence with consideration of parental measures.

The 12-year prediction of physical activity level and submaximal aerobic fitness observed during young adulthood was quantified from childhood and parental measures. The sample consisted of 153 children and adolescents of the Quebec Family Study who were evaluated at baseline and reassessed 12 years later, as young adults. Physical work capacity at a heart rate of 150 beats x min(-1) (PWC150) was measured using cycle ergometry. A 3-day activity record was used to estimate daily energy expenditure (DEE), inactive time (IA), and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA). Spearman partial inter-age correlations, controlling for length of follow-up and age at baseline, indicated better tracking for PWC150 (0.24 and 0.46, males and females, respectively) than for indicators of physical activity (0.07 < or = r < or = 0.25, males; 0.06 < or = r < or = 0.22, females). Multiple regression analyses indicated that parental measurements of activity and PWC150 did not add any predictive value, with the exception of paternal DEE, which accounted for 8% of the variance in males. There is moderately high stability of submaximal work capacity and lower tracking of physical activity from childhood and adolescence into young adulthood.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Secular trend in peak oxygen consumption among United States youth in the 20th century.

The purpose of this study was to examine secular change in peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2)) in U.S. boys and girls using available data from the 20th century. Studies were primarily identified from review articles and a Medline search. To be included in the analysis, studies must have included direct measurement of peak Vo(2) on healthy (free from overt disease) United States children and youth from the general population separated by sex. Data (mean values) were divided by decade and separated into three age groups: 6-12, 13-15, and 16-18 years for boys, and 6-11, 12-14, and 15-18 years for girls. Peak Vo(2) values were expressed as related to bipedal locomotion; therefore, cycle ergometry values were corrected by a factor of 1.075. Mean values were fit by least squares, goodness-of-fit regression lines. Results indicate that absolute (L x min(-1)) and relative (ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) peak Vo(2) have remained relatively stable among boys and young girls. In adolescent girls, particularly those 15 years of age and older, peak Vo(2) has decreased by approximately 20% over the past few decades. The available data indicate that aerobic fitness has not decreased in United States youth except in adolescent girls over the past few decades.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy with growth hormone inhibitors.

A controlled, double-blind therapeutic trial with the drug mazindol, a growth hormone inhibitor, was performed in a pair of 7 1/2 year-old monozygotic twins, with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The rationale for this trial was based on a patient (reported previously) affected simultaneously with DMD and growth hormone (GH) deficiency, who is showing a benign course of the dystrophic process and is still walking at 18 years. One of the twins received 2 mg of mazindol daily, while the other received a placebo. The assessment, repeated every 2 months, included weight and height measurements, functional and motor ability tests, ergometry and determinations of serum enzymes and GH levels. After one year of trial the code was broken and it was seen that the twin under placebo treatment was strikingly worse than his brother, the progression of whose condition was practically arrested. These results strongly suggest that treatment with a GH inhibitor is beneficial for DMD patients.

Body Height↗

PubMed1996

Impact of aerobic training on fitness and quality of life in multiple sclerosis.

Fifty-four multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were randomly assigned to exercise (EX) or nonexercise (NEX) groups. Before and after 15 weeks of aerobic training, aspects of fitness including maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), isometric strength, body composition, and blood lipids were measured. Daily activities, mood, fatigue, and disease status were measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS), Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and neurological examination. Training consisted of 3 x 40-minute sessions per week of combined arm and leg ergometry. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were unchanged, except for improved bowel and bladder function in the EX group. Compared with baseline, the EX group demonstrated significant increases in VO2max, upper and lower extremity strength, and significant decreases in skinfolds, triglyceride, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). For the EX group, POMS depression and anger scores were significantly reduced at weeks 5 and 10, and fatigue was reduced at week 10. The EX group improved significantly on all components of the physical dimension of the SIP and showed significant improvements for social interaction, emotional behavior, home management, total SIP score, and recreation and past times. No changes were observed for EX or NEX groups on the FSS. Exercise training resulted in improved fitness and had a positive impact on factors related to quality of life.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Cardiovascular fitness and health in patients with end-stage osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiovascular fitness of a group of patients with severe osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with end-stage OA were evaluated just before hip or knee replacement surgery. Severity of arthritis was evaluated using standardized techniques. Patients and age- and sex-matched controls underwent a single, maximal, symptom-limited, cardiopulmonary exercise test using arm or leg ergometry and a metabolic cart to measure expired respiratory gases. RESULTS: Severe musculoskeletal disability and deformity was confirmed in the OA patient group. During exercise testing, OA patients were able to perform physiologically maximal cardiopulmonary exercise. Arthritis patients were noted to be severely deconditioned, with reduced peak oxygen consumption (OA hips mean +/- SD 14.9 +/- 4.2 versus control hips 19.0 +/- 4.6, P < 0.0001; OA knees 12.8 +/- 3.7 versus control knees 17.6 +/- 5.2 ml/kg/minute, P < 0.0005). A trend for more frequent manifestations of coronary heart disease in OA patients than in controls (27% versus 13%; P > 0.05) was also noted. CONCLUSION: Patients with end-stage lower extremity OA are severely deconditioned. This may place them at incremental risk for the development of coronary heart disease.

Aged↗