Why does recovery after exercise take longer in older adults?

Recovery after exercise takes longer in older adults primarily because their physiological regulatory mechanisms are less efficient at returning the body to a resting state compared to those of younger individuals.1

When performing physical activity, older adults experience greater physiological stress for a given workload, resulting in more pronounced increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Because the body's control systems require more time to reestablish normal levels after such changes, the recovery period for these vital signs is extended.1

Furthermore, the capacity for muscular work is reduced in the elderly, partly due to a diminished ability to deliver sufficient oxygen to working muscles. During strenuous exercise, the elderly cannot increase their heart rate to the same maximum levels as the young, and the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the blood is also less efficient. These factors collectively contribute to the increased time required for the body to recover from the stress of physical exertion.1