Maximal strength and power characteristics in isometric and dynamic actions of the upper and lower extremities in middle‐aged and older men

Abstract

Muscle cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris (CSAQF), maximal isometric strength (handgrip test and unilateral knee extension/flexion), the shape of isometric force-time curves, and power-load curves during concentric and stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) actions with loads ranging from 15 to 70% of one repetition maximum half-squat (1RMHS) and bench-press (1RMBP) were examined in 26 middle-aged men in the 40-year-old (M40) (mean age 42, range 35-46) and 21 elderly men in the 65-year-old age group (M65) (mean age 65, range 60-74). Maximal bilateral concentric (1RMHS and 1RMBP), unilateral knee extension (isometric; MIFKE and concentric; 1RMKE) strength and muscle CSA in M65 were lower (P < 0.001) than in M40. The individual values of the CSAQF correlated with the individual values of maximal concentric 1RMHS, 1RMKE and MIFKE in M65, while the corresponding correlations were lower in M40. The maximal MIFKE value per CSA of 4.54 +/- 0.7 N m cm-2 in M40 was greater (P < 0. 05-0.01) than that of 4.02 +/- 0.7 N m cm-2 recorded in M65. The maximal rate of force development of the knee extensors and flexors in M65 was lower (P < 0.01-0.001) and the heights in squat and counter-movement jumps as much as 27-29% lower (P < 0.001) than those recorded in M40. M65 showed lower (P < 0.001) concentric power values for both upper and lower extremity performances than those recorded for M40. Maximal power output was maximized at the 30-45% loads for the upper extremity and at the 60-70% loads for the lower extremity extensors in both age groups. Muscle activation of the antagonists was significantly higher (P < 0.01-0.001) during the isometric and dynamic knee extension actions in M65 than in M40. The present results support a general concept that parallel declines in muscle mass and maximal strength take place with increasing age, although loss of strength may vary in both lower and upper extremity muscles in relation to the type of action and that ageing may also lead to a decrease in voluntary neural drive to the muscles. Explosive strength and power seem to decrease with increasing age even more than maximal isometric strength in both actions but power was maximized at the 30-45% loads for the upper and at the 60-70% loads for the lower extremity action in both age groups. High antagonist muscle activity may limit the full movement efficiency depending on the type of muscle action, testing conditions and the velocity and/or the time duration of the action, especially in the elderly.

Influence of gender, age and BMI on lower limb muscular power output in a large population of obese men and women

“…In agreement with the age-related decrease in muscle performance presently observed in our obese population, the decline in maximal strength and power has been reported to take place at a rate of about 1-3% per year in lower limb extensor muscles. 23,29 Moreover, Lindle et al 22 observed that the decline in strength with age appears to start later in women than men, similarly to our finding concerning the gender-related power output trend.…”

“…In normal weight individuals, ageing is known to be accompanied by a significant decline in maximal strength and explosive force production, 21,22 as well as power output, 23,24 which seem to be explained to a great extent by the reduction in muscle mass, 25,26 although age-related changes in hormone balance 27 and a lower capacity of elderly for neuromuscular response in controlling postural sway 28 can play an important role. In agreement with the age-related decrease in muscle performance presently observed in our obese population, the decline in maximal strength and power has been reported to take place at a rate of about 1-3% per year in lower limb extensor muscles.…”

Multicomponent exercises including muscle power training enhance muscle mass, power output, and functional outcomes in institutionalized frail nonagenarians

“…These results are interesting because first, skeletal muscle power decreases earlier and faster than muscle strength with advancing age (Izquierdo et al 1999), and second, as mentioned above, muscle power seems to be more closely associated with performance on functional tests than muscle strength per se in the elderly populations Reid and Fielding 2012;CasasHerrero et al 2013). Along with the increased muscle CSA observed in the present study, neural adaptations such as the increase in the maximal motor unit recruitment and maximal motor unit firing rate may help to explain the strength and power output increases observed in the present study .…”

“…Skeletal muscle power decreases before muscle strength with advancing age (Izquierdo et al 1999;Reid and Fielding 2012) and is more strongly associated with functional test performance than muscle strength in elderly populations (Pereira et al 2012). However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated the effects of multicomponent exercise intervention, with a specific emphasis on muscle power output, balance, and walking enhancements, in the frail oldest old population.…”

Age-related differences in pre-movement antagonist muscle co-activation and reaction-time performance

“…Higher antagonist co-activation has been reported in elderly persons for both isometric and dynamic contractions (Izquierdo et al, 1999;Klein et al, 2001;Macaluso et al, 2002). It is assumed that this might be a physiologic compensation for age-related muscle weakness in order to increase joint stiffness and maintain joint stability (Hortobagyi and DeVita, 2000).…”