Physiological Responses of Men to 1, 3, and 5 Day per Week Training Programs

The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological responses of county jail inmates to running programs of 1-day, 3-day, and 5-day/week frequencies. Fifty-five volunteer male inmates, age 20 to 35 years, were evaluated on the following variables: resting heart rate and blood pressure; treadmill performance time; maximum oxygen intake ([Vdot]O2 max) and related metabolic measures; lung volumes; body composition; and serum lipids. Subjects were assigned randomly into a control, 1-day, 3-day, or 5-day/week conditioning group. The training were 30 min/session and were conducted at approximately 85 to 90% maximum heart rate for 20 weeks. Results indicated no significant changes in the four groups for resting and recovery blood pressures, maximum heart rates, spirometry measures, body weight, and serum lipids. Significant improvements occurred in direct proportion to frequency of training in resting and recovery heart rates, treadmill performance time, [Vdot]O2 max, max O2 pulse, and [Vdot]E ma...