Effects of Chronic Institutionalization on the Physical Working Capacity and Trainability of Geriatric Men

Comparisons of the physical working capacities and trainability of chronically institutionalized (Cl) and recently hospitalized (RH) geriatric mental patients showed that Cl patients had significantly lower physical working capacities (heart rate and oxygen pulse responses to a constant load bicycle ergometer stress test) than their RH counterparts. During the first 12 weeks' training, a minimal level training stimulus of 50% of the heart rate range was utilized for both groups. Significant physiological improvement was noted in Cl patients while RH patients remained essentially unchanged. Significant changes were demonstrated in the RH group during the final 6 weeks' training as the intensity of daily exercise was increased to 60% of the heart rate range. Further significant physiological improvement also occurred in the Cl group during this phase of training. As expected, no significant physiological changes occurred through the 18-week training period in a third group of similarly aged patients serving as non-exercised controls.