Morphofunctional Modification in Elderly Individuals Practicing Competitive Endurance Sport

Sullo, Alessio; Brizzi, Guglielmo; Cardinale, Pasquale; Fabbri, Bruno; Maffulli, Nicola

doi:10.14712/18059694.2018.61

Acta Medica > Archive > 2004, Vol. 47 > Issue 1 > Morphofunctional Modification in Elderly…

Acta Med. 2004, 47: 25-28

https://doi.org/10.14712/18059694.2018.61

Morphofunctional Modification in Elderly Individuals Practicing Competitive Endurance Sport

Alessio Sullo^a,b, Guglielmo Brizzi^b, Pasquale Cardinale^a, Bruno Fabbri^c, Nicola Maffulli^d

^aOperative United of Rehabilitation and Care – “Lungodegenza Division” – ASL AV1, S. Nicola Baronia, Italy
^bSecond University of Naples, Medical School, Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology, Napoli, Italy
^cSport Medicine Center CONI-FMSI – Padova, Italy
^dKeele University School of Medicine, North Staffordshire Hospital, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, England

Received August 1, 2003
Accepted October 1, 2003

To investigate the modification of body composition and level of aerobic capacity in older athletes practicing competitive sport for two years consecutively, 20 elderly male endurance athletes (A) were compared with twenty elderly male subjects who practiced moderate exercise (C). Body composition analysis, physical activity and maximal aerobic power (VO_2max) were measured at the beginning of the study, after twelve months and after twenty-four months in both groups. We observed significant differences in group A: body fat was significantly lower in the subjects at the first and second year than at the beginning of the study; fat-free mass (FFM) was significantly higher in the subjects at the first and second year; VO_2max in every measurements was significantly higher in the subjects at the at the first and second year than at beginning of the study. Our data suggest that it is possible, even in the elderly, to reach a good level of physical fitness with appropriate training protocols for competitive sport.