Faculty Collaboration Database

Specific strength and voluntary muscle activation in young and elderly women and men. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1999 Jul;87(1):22-9

Date

07/20/1999

Pubmed ID

10409554

DOI

10.1152/jappl.1999.87.1.22

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0032812431 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   238 Citations

Abstract

The extents to which decreased muscle size or activation are responsible for the decrease in strength commonly observed with aging remain unclear. Our purpose was to compare muscle isometric strength [maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)], cross-sectional area (CSA), specific strength (MVC/CSA), and voluntary activation in the ankle dorsiflexor muscles of 24 young (32 +/- 1 yr) and 24 elderly (72 +/- 1 yr) healthy men and women of similar physical activity level. Three measures of voluntary muscle activation were used: the central activation ratio [MVC/(MVC + superimposed force)], the maximal rate of voluntary isometric force development, and foot tap speed. Men had higher MVC and CSA than did women. Young men had higher MVC compared with elderly men [262 +/- 19 (SE) vs. 197 +/- 22 N, respectively], whereas MVC was similar in young and elderly women (136 +/- 15 vs. 149 +/- 16 N, respectively). CSA was greater in young compared with elderly subjects. There was no age-related impairment of specific strength, central activation ratio, or the rate of voluntary force development. Foot tap speed was reduced in elderly (34 +/- 1 taps/10 s) compared with young subjects (47 +/- 1 taps/10 s). These results suggest that isometric specific strength and the ability to fully and rapidly activate the dorsiflexor muscles during a single isometric contraction were unimpaired by aging. However, there was an age-related deficit in the ability to perform rapid repetitive dynamic contractions.

Author List

Kent-Braun JA, Ng AV

Author

Alexander V. Ng PhD Associate Professor in the Exercise Science department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Ankle
Estrogen Replacement Therapy
Exercise
Female
Humans
Isometric Contraction
Male
Motor Neurons
Muscle, Skeletal
Sex Characteristics