CHANGES IN BLOOD PRESSURE AND ECG BETWEEN BEFORE AND AFTER LONG DISTANCE RUNNING IN MIDDLE-AGED AND OLD RUNNERS

In order to elucidate the changes of cardiovascular functions on the long distance running in middle-aged and old men (aged 40-87 years) performing the running training at least over a year measured on blood pressure and ECG before and after the 10km, 25km and 42km running, respectively. Furthermore, several runners fainted during and at the end of running were also measured on the blood pressure at the fainting. The results were summarized as follows, In the 10km, 25km and 42km running the average values of systolic (excepting the 10km), and diastolic pressure after running were significantly lower than those average values before running. Further, it was noted that the higher the systolic and diastolic pressure before running were the more the reduction of those blood pressure after running in any distance, and also with the prolongation of running distance the reduction of those blood pressure became more remarkable. Especially, the reduction of blood pressure in the fainted runners was very remarkable. On the other hand, the pulse pressure showed no significant difference between before and after running. On the observation of ECG recorded before and after running, the shortening of PQ interval and the prolongation of QTc were noted after running, especially the prolongation of QTc in a group of 42km was remarkable. While the reduction of TII voltage was also found after running. It may be therefore thought that a long distance running in middle-aged and old men bring on large changes for their cardiovascular functions, even if they continued the running training over a year.