Do Younger and Older Adults Experience Similar Adaptations to Individualized Exercise Training?

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (a) to identify whether or not younger individuals experience greater training adaptations when compared to their older counterparts in relation to cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, body composition, and flexibility; and (b) to identify whether or not younger individuals have more pronounced improvements in their cardiometabolic risk factor profile faster with individualized exercise training than older counterparts. Physically inactive men and women between the ages of 18 to 35 (n=10) and 50 to 70 (n=8) participated in an 8-wk exercise program separated into two phases: Phase 1 (weeks 1-4) at HR < VT1 and Phase 2 (weeks 5-8) at HR ≥ VT1 < VT2. There were significant differences in all fitness measures (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, body composition, and flexibility) from baseline to post-program in the younger group (P