Declining performance of master athletes: silhouettes of the trajectory of healthy human ageing?

Abstract

Analysis of world record performances by master athletes suggests an essentially linear decline with age until around the eighth decade after which performance decline accelerates. Because these records are obtained from highly trained individuals they can be viewed as being reflective of the diminution of integrative physiological prowess that occurs solely as a result of ageing, unaffected by the confounding effects of inactivity. It can also be argued that these performance profiles mirror and provide an insight into the trajectory of the physiology of the human ageing process. Here we propose a set point theory that hypothesises that a given threshold of physical activity is needed to age optimally and to maximise the 'healthspan'. Exercising at levels below the set point will result in ageing being contaminated by the unpredictable and pathological effects of inactivity. Exercise above this threshold stimulates adaptations towards maximising athletic performance, but is unlikely to have further beneficial effects on health. Thus the decades-long, controlled diminution in athletic performance, should not be seen as a disease process. The ageing process is separate from, and independent of, exercise-mediated processes that maintain or adapt physiological function. Whether an understanding of these mechanisms will also help uncover mechanisms underpinning the ageing process itself is open to question. However, any model which does not take into account the effects of activity will not adequately describe the inherent ageing process.

Age-Related Upper Limits in Physical Performances

“…Physical exercise is a key ingredient of an extended health span (ie the duration of life "in which autonomy, control, independence and well-being are maintained") (1)(2)(3)(4). Since the seminal works of A. V. Hill and D. B. Dill, exercise physiology has provided major insights in the understanding of human biology, its adaptation, and its changes with time (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). In this regard, the quantitative measurements of physical exercise, and especially maximal physical performances, accurately reflect age-related changes and the aging process (2,7,8).…”

Aging of Competitive Athletes

“…In addition to these cardiovascular functions, Masters athletes demonstrate superior phenotypes in a variety of physiological functions [30] . For example, Masters athletes exhibit a larger regional brain volume and better cognitive performance than sedentary peers [31] .…”

La retirada deportiva en Baloncesto: proceso y factores

“…Con la retirada generalmente la actividad física se ve reducida (Lazarus & Harridge, 2016), con lo que se producen cambios corporales que modifican la imagen corporal creada durante el periodo competitivo, a los que se tiene que ir adaptando por la nueva situación, pudiendo producir procesos de ansiedad (Lavalle et al, 2007;Wylleman, Rosier, De Brand, de Knop, 2016).…”

“…La inactividad física es uno de los factores que aumentan la mortalidad (Bouchard, Blair, y Katzmarzyk, 2015), y la disminución drástica de la actividad física por parte de los deportistas (Lazarus et al, 2016) supone un alto riesgo de desarrollar diferentes patologías, como enfermedades cardiovasculares, la hipertensión arterial y enfermedades endocrinas (Alonso, 2001). Este riesgo se puede ver reducido de manera significativa cuando el deportista realiza un programa de desentrenamiento o continua realizando actividad física de manera periódica (García et al, 2009).…”

“…Las adaptaciones que se producen durante la carrera deportiva se van perdiendo, y en este proceso se pueden desarrollar las patologías comentadas anteriormente, debido a una mala adaptación, a no realizar un programa de desentrenamiento adecuado y a la inactividad. Otros factores que son claves, además de la realización de actividad física, es tener un estilo de vida saludable cuidando la dieta, y evitando el consumo de tabaco y alcohol (Lazarus et al, 2016).…”