Relationship between Physical Characteristics and Physiological Load of an Exercise Loading Method Using Sit-to-Stand

Abstract

[Purpose] In an exercise loading method using repeated sit-to-stand, we investigated the relationship between physical characteristics and physiological load. [Subjects] The subjects were a group of 31 healthy young persons and a group of 17 elderly persons with respective average ages of 20.1 and 66.1. [Method] The measurement items were oxygen uptake at set physiological exercise intensities, and the physical characteristics of height, weight, sitting height, and lower limb strength. After sitting quietly at rest for 3 minutes, the subjects performed the stand-up exercise at work rates from 6 to 30 times a minute for 3 minutes in a ramped load protocol. Relationships between oxygen uptake and physical characteristics were investigated using Pearson's correlation coefficient at a level of significance of less than 5%. [Results] For the young persons group a significant correlation (r=0.74) was found between oxygen uptake and height at the work rates attained for stand-ups; for the elderly persons group, a significant correlation (r=0.54) was found for sitting height. [Conclusion] When setting the same stand-up work rates for different subjects, it is necessary to consider the relationship of height and sitting height to the distance moved. Also, the fact that the related items were different with age grouping, suggests that they should be investigated by age.