Ageing is determined by the laws of nature. But pace and course of ageing processes depend to a certain degree on environmental factors and particularly on the way of life. The individual maintains with advancing age an adaptability to physically shaping stimuli. The effects of regular physical activity can be assessed in elderly persons as beneficial modifications in bodily structure and function. On the other hand ageing and lack of physical performance capacity demonstrate numerous analogies. The manifestation of a number of (mostly chronic) diseases is promoted by ageing and by hypokinesia. The adaptive consequences of an adequate activity of the largest organ of the body, the musculature, are in a phenomenological contrast to essential processes of ageing. A good state of exercise-induced adaptation is an effective component in prophylaxis and in establishing a relatively low biological age.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Aging and normal physical values].

The physical features of healthy persons demonstrate considerable modifications in the range of the potential for extragenetic adaptation. The functional capacity is not identical in the total spectrum of adaptation; under the aspect of a wide adaptive scope physiological findings must also be evaluated against the background of normality. A minimal norm, a norm of the majority, an ideal norm and a special norm can be confirmed. The minimal norm is the border between physiology and pathology. The norm of the majority is the average of the healthy population. The ideal norm is characterized by an optimum of functional efficiency. The special norm is a prerequisite for special physical activities and high performances. The concept of normality as dependent on exercise-induced adaptation is relatively well established for persons in the so-called age of highest physical performance capacity. In this presentation the attempt is made to transfer the afore-mentioned concept of normality to the situation in later periods of life. The body is lifelong adaptable, but the position of the four categories of norms changes in the course of life. An efficient classification of norms based on exercise-induced adaptations is for older individuals of particular importance as these persons are at present to a high degree affected by hypokinesia with a subsequent maladaptation (atrophy).

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Age-related changes of PWC 170 (physical working capacity 170) in the course of a 4-week training program at a health resort].

The physical working capacity 170 (PWC 170) exhibits a characteristic age-dependent course: With advancing age the values increase, although the physical performance capacity decreases. This reaction points to a slow responding heart rate in elderly individuals. After a four weeks treatment in a rehabilitation center combined with a high level of physical activity there was a decline of the PWC 170 in middle-aged persons. These results show that regular exercise generates a pronounced acceleration of the heart rate; this adaptive functional situation leads to a fast adjustment of the heart rate to the actual level of the load. In untrained elderly individuals the PWC 170 is no reliable parameter to indicate the physical performance capacity and the cardiac adaptation.

Angina Pectoris↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Significance of determining biologic aging for gerontology].

Based upon historical findings in age research the authors state that new, actual hypotheses and models and the experimental examination of which incite re-thinking on the inter-disciplinary role or gerontology. The authors start from the fact that it seems to be possible today - GDR gerontology is capable to essentially support international research activities - to sufficiently precisely determine the biological age(ing) of human beings by the multi-factorial functional diagnostics. The degree of vitality is hereby applied as the criterion of biological age(ing) that considers the asynchronous bio-social dynamics of human ageing during the periods of development, maturity and regression. Gerontology is thereby now capable to define sex differently valid references values ("standard values") for vitality and biological age throughout all the ages. The authors elaborate the idea that the efforts of medical research activities are concentrating on the attempt to improve vitality which has been reduced by illness to an age-adequate level, while sport sciences are trying to increase vitality beyond this level during all the periods of life. From these aspects gerontology wins a new inter-disciplinary status as a scientific-theoretical and operational link between medicine and sport sciences. Both, gerontology and sports medicine in particular will have to make pioneers' works to spread these ideas.

Adolescent↗