HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free All Versions of this Article: 102/5/1962    most recent 01166.2006v1 Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McNeil, C. J. Articles by Rice, C. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McNeil, C. J. Articles by Rice, C. L.

Peripheral impairments cause a progressive age-related loss of strength and velocity-dependent power in the dorsiflexors

¹Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, ²School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, and ³Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

Submitted 16 October 2006 ; accepted in final form 14 February 2007

Muscle power is more functionally relevant than static muscle strength, particularly with aging. However, the effect of age on power derived from isotonic contractions has been studied sparingly, and it has not been studied at all in subjects >75 yr of age. Thus the purpose was to investigate the magnitude and causes of age-related losses in isotonic power among 13 young (26 yr), 13 old (65 yr), and 13 very old (84 yr) men. Six different loads were employed to create velocity-torque and power-torque relationships. Dorsiflexor cross-sectional area was assessed via magnetic resonance imaging for the calculation of specific power. Electromyographic signals of the tibialis anterior and soleus muscles were recorded to assess agonist activation and antagonist coactivation, respectively. Despite similar contractile masses and levels of voluntary drive and antagonist co-activation, power was significantly impaired in the old vs. young (25%), and in the very old relative to both the young (60%) and old (40%). The novel results punctuate two important considerations for studies concerned with the effect of age on the neuromuscular system. First, the decreased ability of muscles from old men to produce power in the presence of reasonably well-preserved strength indicates the utility of studying isotonic contractions. Second, the precipitous decline in many measures between the seventh and ninth decades underscores the benefit of testing more than one group of aged subjects to improve our understanding of rates of change in key variables.

electromyography; magnetic resonance imaging; very old

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. H. Chung, D. M. Callahan, and J. A. Kent-Braun Age-related resistance to skeletal muscle fatigue is preserved during ischemia J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2007; 103(5): 1628 - 1635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]