The Response of Healthy Men to Treadmill Exercise
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The Response of Healthy Men to Treadmill Exercise ROGER A. WOLTHUIS, PH.D., VICTOR F. FROELICHER, JR., LT COL, USAF, MC, JOSEPH FISCHER, M.S., AND JOHN H. TRIEBWASSER, COL, USAF, MC, FS SUMMARY Heart rates, blood pressures, and functional indicated measurements are individually described by the use of responses to submaximal, maximal and postexertional treadmill test- percentiles. These data provide the practicing clinician with an ac- ing are presented for a group of 704 healthy, asymptomatic air- curate and complete description of the response of healthy men to crewmen referred to the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine. The treadmill exercise. THE INTERPRETATION OF ELECTROCARDIO- to submaximal, maximal, and postexertional treadmill GRAPHIC CHANGES in response to exercise testing is of testing. In addition to diagnostic use, these reference values established value in the early detection, diagnosis, and sub- serve as a basis for monitoring individuals during treadmill sequent management of coronary atherosclerotic heart dis- testing to assure patient safety. Finally, this study may ease (CAD).'` The major emphasis placed on inter- provide the basis for subsequent studies which seek to es- pretation of the exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) has, tablish discriminant values that separate healthy individuals however, tended to de-emphasize the value and significance from those with specific health disorders. of other commonly acquired exercise performance measurements (i.e., heart rate, blood pressure, and func- Materials and Methods tional capacity). These latter measurements are currently at- tracting renewed attention as part of an effort to improve the The United States Air Force School of Aerospace overall sensitivity and specificity of exercise testing. Recent Medicine (USAFSAM) provides a clinical consultation ser- reports have suggested that maximal oxygen consumption,6 vice for the evaluation of referred, ambulatory aircrewmen functional aerobic capacity estimated from maximal tread- with a broad spectrum of suspected or manifested medical mill time,7 8 maximal and submaximal heart rate and blood disorders. These medical disorders, though mild and usually pressure,9-" and the maximal heart rate-blood pressure asymptomatic, are potentially serious in view of modern air- product,'2 may also be useful indices for identifying the crew responsibilities. All individuals in the present study presence and/or severity of CAD in patients. were aircrewmen referred to this service. The value of any measurement in providing useful diag- All referred aircrewmen are given a complete and com- nostic information from treadmill testing depends upon: a) prehensive medical evaluation at the USAFSAM. This the accuracy and completeness with which the measurement medical evaluation includes a history and physical examina- has been made in healthy individuals (the reference values); tion by flight surgeons, internists, ophthalmologists, and and b) the effectiveness with which certain limits of the ENT consultants, with further specialist work-ups where in- measurement (discriminant values) separate healthy in- dicated. Extensive clinical laboratory studies are completed. dividuals from those with known health disorders.'3 Additional procedures routinely accomplished include chest, Previously published studies have reported reference values abdominal and sinus X-rays, resting ECG and VCG, max- based on the response of healthy individuals to treadmill imal treadmill exercise testing, at least four hours of Holter testing. Unfortunately, a majority of these studies were ECG monitoring, and spirometry. based on a small sample size, and statistics based on them More then 2500 aircrewmen were seen at the USAFSAM are less likely to provide a true estimate of population Consultation Service between 1973 and 1975; each of the in- parameters than is a comparable study based on a larger dividual medical records and results of the USAFSAM number. In the remaining few studies with a larger sample evaluation were reviewed for the purpose of identifying a size, data for both submaximal and postexertional treadmill subgroup of healthy individuals. We excluded all individuals responses are fragmentary and incomplete. Hence, the prac- with acute or chronic medical disorders or with any condi- ticing clinician has not had a complete and readily available tion that might affect functional capacity. Additionally, men set of reference values for use with his application of tread- with bundle branch block, significant Q waves, significant mill exercise testing. ventricular arrhythmias, hypertension, on medication of any The purpose of the present report is to establish a com- kind, or with any abnormality brought out by treadmill test- plete set of reference values for the response of healthy men ing, were excluded. Men below age 25 or above age 54 were excluded because their numbers were too small to provide meaningful data. This left a subgroup of 704 healthy, From the Internal Medicine Branch/NGI, USAF School of Aerospace asymptomatic aircrewmen; the treadmill test results from Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas. The research reported in this paper was conducted by the personnel of the these 704 men serve as a basis for the present report. Clinical Sciences Division, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Aerospace Maximal treadmill testing was conducted in the morning Medical Division, AFSC, United States Air Force, Brooks AFB, Texas with each individual fasting and well rested. This was the 78235. Dr. Froelicher's present address is Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, subject's first treadmill test and initial experience with tread- Lackland AFB, Texas. mill walking. Ambient temperature was typically main- Address for reprints: Roger A. Wolthuis, Ph.D., Internal Medicine Branch, NGI, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas 78235. tained in the range of 23 to 26°C. Multichannel ECG data Received May 10, 1976; revision accepted August 16, 1976. were continuously collected using fluid column silver/silver 153
154 CIRCULATION VOL 55, No 1, JANUARY 1977 chloride electrodes and associated ECG electronic equip- subsequently used to calculate the median (50th percentile) ment as previously described.'4 Blood pressure was and the 10th and 90th percentile limits for each stated measured at regular intervals in the left arm by auscultation; measurement at selected treadmill protocol times. We chose Phase V (disappearance of sounds) was taken as the dia- this nonparametric approach in presenting our data because stolic endpoint. Expired air was collected at full minute in- the use of percentiles 1) does not require an assumption of a tervals as maximum treadmill effort was approached; air normal distribution of the population reported, and 2) this collection was accomplished using a standard mouthpiece type of presentation is easily understood by most people. and nose clip, Koegel's valves and turret,'5 and weather Our specific use of the 10th and 90th percentiles was an ar- balloons. Gas volumes were measured with a Tissot bitrary choice and provides relatively conservative limits for spirometer corrected for pressure and temperature. Expired the response of healthy men to treadmill exercise. Finally, gas analysis for carbon dioxide and oxygen was performed linear regression equations were computed for maximum with Beckman LB-l and E-2 instruments, respectively; these heart rate on age and maximum oxygen consumption on instruments were calibrated daily with gases analyzed by the age. micro Sch6lander technique. Results The treadmill testing procedure included initial periods of supine rest (2 min), quiet standing (3 min) and hyperven- For the 704 individuals that were studied, median (50th tilation (0.75 min); then followed a treadmill walk at 3.3 percentile) age was 37 years, with 26 and 47 years as the 10th mph with 1% grade increases each minute until a maximum and 90th percentiles. Median height was 178 cm, with the effort had been performed.'6 Individuals were not allowed to 10th and 90th percentiles at 170 and 185 cm, respectively. support their weight on treadmill handrails during the test. Median weight for the study population was 78 kg, with 67 All individuals were cooperative and gave what they and the and 89 kg being the 10th and 90th percentiles, respectively. monitoring physician considered a maximal effort. Max- These heights and weights are remarkably similar to those imum effort was followed by an 8-min supine recovery published for a non-service-related male population;'7 our period. lower median age is characteristic of military populations in All measurement data from each individual treadmill test general. were entered into a computer data base. This data base was Supine rest (control period) and submaximal treadmill ex- CONTROL SUB - MAXIMAL RESPONSE F r -I h 200F -190 - 174 L~~~158 HEART r 141 -3 RATE lbpm) K102] 40 FIGURE 1. Control and submaximal treadmill exercise measurement data are shown as median 220r - 208- (U) with 10th and 90th percentiles. Submaximal data are presented for the 5, 10 and 15 percent SYSTOLIC 7174 L-: grade within the Balke-Ware treadmill protocol; BLOOD the relationship between these three grades and PRESSURE other treadmill protocol stages is depicted at the lmmHgl bottom of the figure. z140 1 *2 The numbers of subjects with complete data for 110 each of the measurements are 698 for control; IOOL 699, 700, and 503, respectively, for three sub- maximal responses. 100 _ DIASTOLIC 90 X 90 90-90 BLOOD7 PRESSURE (mmHg) L 68 60~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~6 5 PERCENT rGRADE, 10 AT 3.3 MPH t5 L mEI , ,B | BRUCE | ELLESTAD | [0 i~] McHENRY
EXERCISE RESPONSE OF HEALTHY MEN/Wolthuis et al. 155 ercise test data are presented in figure 1. The control period Supine treadmill recovery data are shown in figure 3. As heart rate and blood pressure data are in the expected range; expected, heart rate and blood pressure data show a fall at the slight elevations in diastolic blood pressures are probably recovery minute two and a further fall at minute five from due to anticipation of the treadmill test. Next, submaximal values attained during maximal exercise. treadmill test data are given for 5, 10 and 15 min (or 5, 10, All blood pressures were measured by auscultation, and and 15% grade) of the Balke-Ware treadmill protocol; time our presentation of these data should not obscure the lack of and treadmill percent grade are numerically the same within accuracy inherent with this technique when applied to exer- this protocol. As shown, heart rate and systolic blood pres- cising subjects.19- 20 On the other hand, auscultation is the sure increased with time and workload, with the increase method typically used during clinical exercise testing and is tapering off as maximum effort is approached. Diastolic felt to be of value.1' Within these limitations, the present blood pressure stayed constant or fell slightly with increas- data are designed to provide a range of expected values for ing effort. The relationship between the Balke-Ware sub- these conditions. maximal workload levels and other well-known treadmill All patients were classified with respect to physical ac- protocol stages is shown at the bottom of figure 1.18 tivity (i.e., active, moderately active, or sedentary) on the The response at maximal effort during treadmill testing is basis of a questionnaire.21 Linear regression equations were shown in figure 2; these data are presented by age decades. computed by activity status for maximum heart rate on age The observed drop in maximal heart rate, maximal oxygen and maximum oxygen consumption on age. The maximal consumption, and maximal treadmill time with increasing heart rate/age relationship was not statistically different age is consistent with changes noted in earlier studies. Max- between the three activity groups, and we have thus imal systolic blood pressure and pressure-rate product presented a single regression equation based on the total change little across the three age decades studied, while data (table 1). On the other hand, regression equations of diastolic pressure increases slightly. maximal oxygen consumption on age differed in intercept but not slope for the three activity groups; we have presented MAXIMAL [last minutel RESPONSE separate intercepts and a common slope for this 220 _ relationship. In all cases, maximal heart rate and maximal FIs^3 [200 194 oxygen consumption declined with age, a finding consistent HEART F ] F with earlier reports. However, the low correlation RATE 1bpm) 10L'162-- 175J L17i0 coefficients and high variability about each of the regression 140L RECOVERY RESPONSE SYSTOLIC BLOODO r11 r24 26 160 r 138-1 I HEART RATE --116 (bpm) 1021 .'I 80 L -88J DIASTOLIC 90 PRESSURE 540_ JmmHg)PRSURE60L L -60-I ;-;6 -El :a 200 194- SYSTOLIC PRESSURE- 50 4 BLOOD RATE PRODUCT 40 - 4 39 L 1 PRESSURE m158n 3 92 (mmHg) -140- (HR x SBPI 10320L 120 L L-120J Ol 50 [48 ][4%74 (cc/kg - min) 34 2*9 90s 690 20 L 20t~~~~~ 31- 29 DIASTOLIC | 86 25 BLOOD | BALKE MAX 21 - 20 19 PRESSURE TIME (min) 13 (mmHg) 60 L 60 60 TIE(ioiL L1 [12 L AGE GR:P: :25-34 235-4 45-54 I min.2 I| min.5 | FIGURE 2. Maximal response treadmill exercise measurement FIGURE 3. Postexertional treadmill exercise measurement data data are shown as median (-), with 10th and 90th percentiles, for are shown as median (-), with 10th and 90th percentiles, for each of three age decades. minutes 2 and 5 of the recovery period. The numbers of subjects with complete data for each of the The numbers of subjects with complete data for each of the measurements shown are (from left to right) 287, 317, and 100. measurements shown are 692 and 698.
156 CIRCULATION VOL 55, No 1, JANUARY 1977 TABLE 1. Linear Regression Equations for Maximal Oxygen ent study between physical activity groups, in part because Consumption on Age, by Activity Status, and for Maximal of genetic and other biological differences, and also because Heart Rate on Age of inadequacies in the available methods for classifying (For active) VO = 50.6 - 0.17 X age (N = 99) physical fitness. Given these limitations and the desire to (For mod active) VO2 = 45.8 - 0.17 X age (N = 258) keep our main data presentation simple and easy to use, the (For sedentary) VO, = 43.2 - 0.17 X age (N = 34-5) reference values in figures 1, 2 and 3 are presented without rpooled = -0.24 SEl"Epoolekd = 5.30 (For all) HR = 204 - 0.6 X age (N = 704) regard to physical activity. rpooled= -0.40 SEEpoole(d = 10.12 Finally, learning to walk the treadmill more efficiently Abbreviations: HR = heart rate; VO = oxygen consumption. leads to lowered heart rates at submaximal workloads and an increase in maximal treadmill performance without im- provement in cardiovascular status or physical fitness. This lines, also demonstrated previously,'4 preclude the predic- learning can be done by allowing an individual to perform a tive usefulness of these relationships. series of treadmill tests.24 Individuals used in the present study were receiving their first treadmill test; repeat users Discussion were excluded for the reasons given. Comparison with Other Healthy Populations Responses Outside the 10th and 90th Percentiles The report by Bruce and colleagues, based on 1275 healthy individuals, is the only previous sizable study pre- The 10th and 90th percentiles were arbitrarily presented; senting both control and submaximal treadmill response these are conservative reference values for the response of data.'7 Mean heart rate and blood pressure values for the healthy men to treadmill exercise. Since 20% of our healthy control period are essentially the same as our median con- population lay outside these limits, patients falling outside trol period data shown in figure 1. Further, mean heart rate these limits may well be normal. However, our reference and blood pressure values from the Bruce protocol stage 1 values help to exclude individuals having subclinical con- are similar to the 5% grade values we have demonstrated. ditions that compromise treadmill performance. Thus, men Ellestad has graphically presented submaximal heart rate with responses lying outside these limits should be evaluated and blood pressure data over a series of age decades.2" The since they may be at increased risk for having a health average responses seem to agree with our median responses; problem. his 95% confidence values cannot be directly compared with Elevated heart rate values at submaximal exercise, max- the percentile limits presented here. imal exercise, or recovery, could be due to vasoregulatory The response of heart rate and oxygen consumption to asthenia2" or to any condition that decreases peripheral maximal treadmill exercise are presented in figure 2 and resistance. Prolonged bed rest could also explain such heart show agreement with other studies.6' 116, 2 The maximal 2, rate elevations.26 A relatively low heart rate at any point blood pressure and pressure-rate product values presented during submaximal work could be due to physical condition- by Bruce and colleagues'7 are also in agreement with those ing and/or an enlarged heart with enhanced stroke volume, shown in figure 2. Recovery heart rate data presented in or it could be due to drugs such as propanolol. Ellestad has figure 3 are very similar to those published from this reported chronotropic incompetence, which he defines as a laboratory on a smaller series." Visual inspection of the heart rate below the age-adjusted 95% confidence limits for recovery data graphically presented by Ellestad across an 8 his treadmill protocol.22 His data demonstrate that min recovery period22 again is quite similar to those chronotropic incompetence carries an increased risk for presented in this report. CAD, even if there is a normal electrocardiographic response to the treadmill test.9 Some Important Variables Affecting Treadmill Testing Systolic blood pressure has been seen to rise above the il- lustrated limits in hypertensives." Such elevations have not Age, physical fitness, and subject's treadmill experience been associated with any complications or ominous im- are all known to have an effect on the treadmill measure- plications in our laboratory. An inadequate blood pressure ments presented. With respect to age, there were some rise can be due to aortic valve disease or left ventricular im- statistically significant age group differences within the pairment. The heart rate-blood pressure product at maximal separate measurements during control, submaximal exer- exercise has been considered a measure of left ventricular cise, and recovery periods. However, the differences were function.'2 An excessive elevation could cause a false small and were not considered important for the purposes positive exercise test because of a physiological imbalance for which these data are presented. With the exception of between myocardial blood supply and demand. We have not maximal heart rate and oxygen consumption, differences in seen this occur in our laboratory. Low values could be due to response to maximal exercise across the age decades were left ventricular dysfunction, outflow obstruction, poor also small. Our presentation of the maximal measurement patient cooperation, or medication. data by age decades was largely prompted by precedence Maximal oxygen consumption has been considered a and the desire to permit comparison with other published valuable measurement since it noninvasively estimates max- studies. imal cardiac output27 and is an index of work capacity and With regard to physical fitness, individuals with a high maximal cardiovascular function.6 However, its practical level of fitness are known to have lower heart rates at sub- diagnostic value is limited because of biological variability, maximal workloads, higher maximal oxygen consumptions, the expense of measuring it accurately, and limitations in es- and quicker drops in recovery heart rate than sedentary in- timating it from treadmill time'4' 20, 28 or by using some dividuals. However, we observed much overlap in the pres- automated commercial devices. Possibly, determination of
EXERCISE RESPONSE OF HEALTHY MEN/Wolthuis et al. 157 an individual's maximal treadmill workload may be a more MC: Value of exercise testing for screening asymptomatic men for latent accurate and/or adequate measure of maximal cardio- coronary artery disease. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 18: 265, 1976 6. Mitchell JH, Blomqvist G: Maximal oxygen uptake. N Engl J Med 284: vascular function. 1018, 1971 Recovery heart rates return to near basal levels faster in 7. Bruce RA, Kusumi F, Hosmer D: Maximal oxygen intake and individuals who are physically fit.2" The rate of change nomographic assessment of functional aerobic impairment in cardiovas- cular disease. Am Heart J 85: 546, 1973 toward basal is also dependent upon the integrity of the car- 8. Bruce RA, Kusumi F, Niederberger M, Petersen JL: Cardiovascular diovascular system and the health of an individual. mechanisms of functional aerobic impairment in patients with coronary heart disease. Circulation 49: 696, 1974 9. Ellestad MH, Wan MKC: Predictive implications of stress testing. Relevance of Regression Data Follow-up of 2700 subjects after maximum treadmill stress testing. Cir- culation 51: 363, 1975 Regression analysis indicated that maximal heart rate 10. Bartel AG, Behar VS, Peter RH, Orgain ES, Kong Y: Graded exercise declined with age as has been shown by many investigators.'8 stress tests in angiographically documented coronary artery disease. Cir- culation 49: 348, 1974 Lester and colleagues reviewed the studies of maximal heart 11. Thomson PD, Kelemen MH: Hypotension accompanying the onset of ex- rates and presented their results in a group of 190 male ertional angina. A sign of severe compromise of left ventricular blood volunteers ranging in age from 15 to 75.23 They found a supply. Circulation 52: 28, 1975 12. Bruce RA, Fisher LD, Cooper MN, Gey GO: Separation of effects of regression slope of -0.41 beats/min/year for both active cardiovascular disease and age on ventricular function with maximal ex- and sedentary subjects, -but active subjects had a lower max- ercise. Am J Cardiol 34: 757, 1974 13. Sunderman FW Jr: Current concepts of "normal values," "reference imal heart rate at any age. Other investigators have values," and "discrimination values" in clinical chemistry. Clin Chem 21: suggested a decline in maximal heart rate of one 1873, 1975 beat/min/year.18 Our decline of -0.61 beats/min/year but 14. Froelicher VF, Thompson AJ, Yanowitz F, Lancaster MC: Treadmill ex- ercise testing at the USAFSAM: Physiological responses in aircrewmen without an effect of activity status numerically lies between and the detection of latent coronary artery disease. AGARDOGRAPH these values. Maximal heart rate has clinical importance No. 210, 1975, NASA, Langley Field, Virginia 23365 since many clinicians use heart rate-targeted submaximal 15. Lenox J, Koegel E: Evaluation of a new low resistance breathing valve. J AppI Physiol 37: 410, 1974 exercise tests. 16. Balke B, Ware RW: An experimental study of physical fitness of Air The analysis of maximal oxygen consumption regressed Force personnel. US Armed Forces Med J 10: 675, 1959 17. Bruce RA, Gey GO Jr, Cooper MN, Fisher LD, Peterson DR: Seattle on age showed a decline with age as found by other in- heart watch: Initial clinical, circulatory and electrocardiographic vestigators.6' 14 Dehn and Bruce reviewed both cross-sec- responses to maximal exercise. Am J Cardiol 33: 459, 1974 tional and longitudinal studies of maximal oxygen con- 18. Fox SM III, Naughton JP, Haskell WL: Physical activity and the prevention of coronary heart disease. Ann Clin Res 3: 404, 1971 sumption and presented their results in a group of 86 healthy 19. Henschel A, De La Vega F, Taylor HL. Simultaneous direct and indirect men with various activity levels.30 Analysis of their cross sec- blood pressure measurements in man at rest and work. J Appl Physiol 6: tional data yielded a regression equation (VO2 = 506, 1954 20. Nelson RR, Gobel FL, Jorgensen CR, Wang K, Wang Y, Taylor HL: 49.93 - 0.278 X age) comparable to the one obtained in our Hemodynamic predictors of myocardial oxygen consumption during study. The poor correlation of maximal oxygen consump- static and dynamic exercise. Circulation 50: 1179, 1974 21. Froelicher VF Jr, Thompson AJ Jr, Noguera I, Davis G, Stewart A, tion and age is likely due to the fact that multiple factors Triebwasser JH: Prediction of maximal oxygen consumption. Com- besides age are involved; i.e., genetic make-up, current and parison of the Bruce and Balke treadmill protocols. Chest 68: 331, 1975 previous activity status, blood volume, hematocrit, cardio- 22. Ellestad MH: Stress testing: Principles and Practice. Philadelphia, FA Davis, 1975 vascular integrity, and environmental conditions.6' 14 23. Lester M, Sheffield LT, Trammell P, Reeves TJ: The effect of age and athletic training on the maximal heart rate during muscular exercise. Am Heart J 76: 370, 1968 Acknowledgment 24. Froelicher VF Jr, Brammell H, Davis G, Noguera I, Stewart A, Lan- caster MC: A comparison of the reproducibility and physiologic response The authors express their appreciation to Mrs. Rosa Linda Rodriguez for to three maximal treadmill exercise protocols. Chest 65: 512, 1974 her support with the manuscript preparation. 25. Friesinger GC, Biern RO, Likar I, Mason RE: Exercise electrocardiog- raphy and vasoregulatory abnormalities. Am J Cardiol 30: 733, 1972 26. Saltin B, Blomqvist G, Mitchell JH, Johnson RL, Wildenthal K, Chap- man CB: Response to exercise after bed rest and after training: A References longitudinal study of adaptive changes in oxygen transport and body composition. Circulation 38 (suppl VII): VII-78, 1968 1. Simonson E: Electrocardiographic stress tolerance tests. Prog Cardio- 27. McDonough JR, Danielson RA, Wills RE, Vine DL: Maximal cardiac vasc Dis 13: 269, 1970 output during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease. Am J 2. Blomqvist CG: Use of exercise testing for diagnostic and functional Cardiol 33: 23, 1974 evaluation of patients with arteriosclerotic heart disease. Circulation 44: 28. Froelicher VF Jr, Lancaster MC: The prediction of maximal oxygen con- 1120, 1971 sumption from a continuous exercise treadmill protocol. Am Heart J 87: 3. Rosing DR, Reichek N, Perloff JK: The exercise test as a diagnostic and 445, 1974 therapeutic aid. Am Heart J 87: 584, 1974 29. Shephard RJ: The prediction of maximum oxygen intake from post- 4. Froelicher VF Jr: The application of electrocardiographic screening and exercise pulse readings. Int Z Angew Physiol 24: 31, 1967 exercise testing to preventive cardiology. Prev Med 2: 592, 1973 30. Dehn MM, Bruce RA: Longitudinal variations in maximal oxygen intake 5. Froelicher VF, Thompson AJ, Longo MR Jr, Triebwasser JH, Lancaster with age and activity. J Appl Physiol 33: 805, 1972
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