Age-dependent changes of some somatic traits and endurance fitness of men 18-55 years of age.

The purpose of the study was to determine the range of involution changes concerning some somatic traits and endurance fitness in men 18-55 years of age. The material consisted of 155 workers from different plants, all living in towns, who were examined twice at a 7-year interval. Six somatic traits were measured and analysed: body height, body weight, chest circumference, skin-fat fold thickness (scapula, shoulder, hip). Maximal oxygen uptake was measured indirectly by recording the pulse rate during submaximal effort. The results were evaluated statistically by calculating the mean, the standard deviation and the significance of arithmetical mean differences. First step regression equations were applied to evaluate involution changes in body height and VO2 max. It was found that: Individual changes in body height began approximately in the 39th year of age. Decline in body height in men increased with age. At about the 32nd year of life the maximal oxygen uptake significantly decreased in the examined men but the process does not tend to intensity with age. After 7 years VO2 max (1/m9n) index decreased 12% in the 31-40 year-olds and 9% in the 41-55 year-olds.