The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of sex and age on the circulatory function characteristies to the bicycle ergometer. The work load (20, 40, and 60 watts) was set up in order to approximate three levels of the daily work load. The subjects were 9 aged, 20 middle aged, and 26 young adult persons (both males and females). Measurements of circulatory function to the exercises were made for 1) oxygen intake ; 2) heart rate ; and 3) blood pressure. Heart rate and systolic blood

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... essure indicated remarkable differences in terms of sex and age with an increase in work load, and the highest values on these physiological measures were shown by the aged women. It was also noted that the aged mens' response to the 60-watt exercise was characterized by a smaller increase in oxygen intake in comparison with that of the middle aged men. In order to determine the major cause of the smaller increase in oxygen intake on the part of aged men, we examined the increase and recovery of their heart rate, metabolic rate, pressure rate product, and oxygen pulse. The 60-watt work load was thought to be near the maximum level of circulatory function for the aged men.