Salzburg Skiing for the Elderly Study: changes in cardiovascular risk factors through skiing in the elderly

Numerous studies have shown that treatment of the modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) results in a decreased risk to suffer from stroke or myocardial infarction. Despite the fact that exercise training is a potent treatment choice for CVRF, this is the first randomized study to assess the effects of alpine skiing on CVRF in elderly skiers. Subjects (n = 42) were randomized into an intervention group (IG; n = 22; 12 males/10 females; age: 66.6 +/- 2.1 years) completing 12 weeks of guided skiing or a control group (CG; n = 20; 10 males/10 females; age: 67.3 +/- 4.4 years). CVRF were assessed before and after the intervention period. No cardiovascular event occurred within a total of 795.1 h of skiing. A significant increase in exercise capacity in IG (Delta VO2max: +2.0 mL/kg/min, P = 0.005) but not in CG (Delta VO2max: -0.1 mL/kg/min, P = 0.858; IG vs CG: P = 0.008) as well as a decrease in body fat mass [IG: 2.3%, P<0.0001; CG: +/- 0.0%, P = 0.866; IG vs CG: P<0.0001] was achieved. Blood pressure, blood lipids, heart rate and everyday physical activity remained essentially unchanged. Alpine skiing in the elderly is safe with respect to cardiovascular events, and improves some, but not all CVRF.