Changes in muscle thickness of gastrocnemius and soleus associated with age and sex

Fujiwara, Katsuo; Asai, Hidehiro; Toyama, Hiroshi; Kunita, Kenji; Yaguchi, Chie; Kiyota, Naoe; Tomita, Hidehito; Jacobs, Jan

doi:10.1007/bf03324811

Cited by 46 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Unlike MG rate of EMG rise, SO rate of EMG rise did not differ between Slower and Faster . This finding is consistent with other studies that have shown preserved neuromuscular function in the SO of older adults (Dalton et al, 2009; Dalton et al, 2008; Fujiwara et al, 2010). One explanation for the differential findings between MG and SO is that innervation of MG is comprised of a higher proportion of large diameter motor neurons, as indicated by the higher proportion of fast twitch muscle fibers (Edgerton et al, 1975).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Neuromuscular determinants of maximum walking speed in well-functioning older adults

Clark

Manini

Fielding

et al. 2013

Experimental Gerontology

105

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Maximum walking speed may offer an advantage over usual walking speed for clinical assessment of age-related declines in mobility function that are due to neuromuscular impairment. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which maximum walking speed is affected by neuromuscular function of the lower extremities in older adults. We recruited two groups of healthy, well functioning older adults who differed primarily on maximum walking speed. We hypothesized that individuals with slower maximum walking speed would exhibit reduced lower extremity muscle size and impaired plantarflexion force production and neuromuscular activation during a rapid contraction of the triceps surae muscle group (soleus (SO) and gastrocnemius (MG)). All participants were required to have usual 10-meter walking speed >1.0 m/s. If the difference between usual and maximum 10m walking speed was < 0.6 m/s, the individual was assigned to the “Slower” group (n=8). If the difference between usual and maximum 10-meter walking speed was > 0.6 m/s, the individual was assigned to the “Faster” group (n=12). Peak rate of force development (RFD) and rate of neuromuscular activation (rate of EMG rise) of the triceps surae muscle group were assessed during a rapid plantarflexion movement. Muscle cross sectional area of the right triceps surae, quadriceps and hamstrings muscle groups was determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Across participants, the difference between usual and maximal walking speed was predominantly dictated by maximum walking speed (r=.85). We therefore report maximum walking speed (1.76 and 2.17 m/s in Slower and Faster, p<.001) rather than the difference between usual and maximal. Plantarflexion RFD was 38% lower (p=.002) in Slower compared to Faster. MG rate of EMG rise was 34% lower (p=.01) in Slower than Faster, but SO rate of EMG rise did not differ between groups (p=.73). Contrary to our hypothesis, muscle CSA was not lower in Slower than Faster for the muscle groups tested, which included triceps surae (p=.44), quadriceps (p=.76) and hamstrings (p=.98). MG rate of EMG rise was positively associated with RFD and maximum 10m walking speed, but not usual 10m walking speed. These findings support the conclusion that maximum walking speed is limited by impaired neuromuscular force and activation of the triceps surae muscle group. Future research should further evaluate the utility of maximum walking speed for use in clinical assessment to detect and monitor age-related functional decline.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Neuromuscular determinants of maximum walking speed in well-functioning older adults

Clark

Manini

Fielding

et al. 2013

Experimental Gerontology

105

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“…In general, greater rates of age-related loss occur among type II fibers, while only moderate losses occur among type I fibers (Doherty et al 1993;Lexell et al 1988;Roos et al 1997). Previous studies have shown slight atrophy of the soleus muscle with predominant type I composition among lower limb muscles in the elderly (Fujiwara et al 2010;Ikezoe et al 2010a, b). Our study also showed slight age-related atrophy of deep trunk muscles consisting of a larger proportion of type I fibers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Effects of age and inactivity due to prolonged bed rest on atrophy of trunk muscles

et al. 2011

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This study investigated the effects of age and inactivity due to being chronically bedridden on atrophy of trunk muscles. The subjects comprised 33 young women (young group) and 41 elderly women who resided in nursing homes or chronic care institutions. The elderly subjects were divided into two groups: independent elderly group who were able to perform activities of daily living involving walking independently (n = 28) and dependent elderly group who were chronically bedridden (n = 13). The thickness of the following six trunk muscles was measured by B-mode ultrasound: the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis, thoracic erector spinae (longissimus) and lumbar multifidus muscles. All muscles except for the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscles were significantly thinner in the independent elderly group compared with those in the young group. The thicknesses of all muscles in the dependent elderly group was significantly smaller than that in the young group, whereas there were no differences between the dependent elderly and independent elderly groups in the muscle thicknesses of the rectus abdominis and internal oblique muscles. In conclusion, our results suggest that: (1) age-related atrophy compared with young women was less in the deep antigravity trunk muscles than the superficial muscles in the independent elderly women; (2) atrophy associated with chronic bed rest was more marked in the antigravity muscles, such as the back and transversus abdominis.

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“…However, in these studies, the quadriceps (Arts et al 2010;Kubo et al 2003a, b;Reimers et al 1998) and triceps surae muscles (Fujiwara et al 2010;Kubo et al 2003a, b;Reimers et al 1998) have been mainly evaluated. There have been no studies that have focused on sarcopenia in the individual muscles of the lower limb, including those around the hip, knee and ankle joints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Atrophy of the lower limbs in elderly women: is it related to walking ability?

et al. 2010

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This study investigated the relationship between walking ability and age-related muscle atrophy of the lower limbs in elderly women. The subjects comprised 20 young women and 37 elderly women who resided in nursing homes or chronic care institutions. The elderly subjects were divided into three groups according to their walking ability. The muscle thickness of the following ten lower limb muscles were measured by B-mode ultrasound: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, psoas major, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius and soleus. Compared to the young group, muscle thicknesses of all muscles except the soleus muscle were significantly smaller in all the elderly groups. There were no significant differences between the fast- and slow-walking groups in the thickness of any muscle. In the dependent elderly group, noticeable muscle atrophy was observed in the quadriceps femoris muscle. The results of this study suggest that the elderly who are capable of locomotion, regardless of their walking speed, show a moderate degree of age-related atrophy, while those who do not walk exhibit more severe atrophy, especially in the quadriceps femoris muscle.

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Changes in muscle thickness of gastrocnemius and soleus associated with age and sex

Abstract: These results confirm that gastrocnemius starts to deteriorate earlier and atrophies at a faster pace than soleus. A significant sex difference was found only in the onset age of gastrocnemius deterioration, which was earlier in men than in women.

Cited by 46 publications

References 21 publications

Neuromuscular determinants of maximum walking speed in well-functioning older adults

Neuromuscular determinants of maximum walking speed in well-functioning older adults

Effects of age and inactivity due to prolonged bed rest on atrophy of trunk muscles

Atrophy of the lower limbs in elderly women: is it related to walking ability?

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