Abstract

The study investigated potential health benefits of 2 levels of short-term exercise intervention, compared with non-intervention, on selected modifiable coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and functional fitness states in middle-aged men. All subjects underwent medical screening before carrying out a graded treadmill walk of intensity up to 85 of age-predicted maximal heart rate. Results of the test were used for the prescription of a personalized exercise programme lasting 14 wks. In all, 55 subjects were classified by adherence into high (HA, n=20), low (LA, n=19), or non-adherence (NA, n=16) groups according to the degree of documented participation in the programme. Results indicated that there were more comprehensive improvements in functional fitness including significant gains in aerobic endurance capacity, muscular endurance and flexibility in the HA group. However, there was little or no change in the modifiable CHD risk factors in any of the respective groups, although anthropometric indices of weight, body mass index (BMI), skinfolds and waist:hips ratio tended to decrease in the HA and LA groups but increased marginally in the NA group. Resting systolic blood pressures declined slightly in all groups, but serum total cholesterol remained unchanged irrespective of adherence level. Findings suggest that while functional fitness status gains may arise from optimal adherence level to short-term exercise conditioning, these are not matched by health gains like amelioration of modifiable CHD risk factors. Verf.-Referat