Abstract

The exercise performance of 21 subjects with verified AS was studied in order to examine the possible limitations in their cardiorespiratory performance and aerobic power. 20 sedentary subjects matched for age and body size served as controls. Spirometric data of AS subjects were 19-26 lower than the predicted. The examined persons performed a symptom limited bicycle ergometry. The maximum O2 uptake/kg body weight of AS subjects was less than the predicted VO2max and the measured VO2max of matched healthy subjects. After the submaximal work a moderate acidosis was found in both groups. As a conclusion the exercise performance of AS patients decreased. Partly the decreased physical activity partly ventilatory impairment appear to be responsible for the observed reduction of aerobic power. Spiroergometry seems to be a very useful tool in the follow up of the cardiorespiratory performance of AS subjects during several year conditioning programs and in the estimation of the efficiency of physiotherapy and curative gymnastics. Verf.-Referat