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J Appl Physiol 87: 1786-1795, 1999;
8750-7587/99 $5.00
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Vol. 87, Issue 5, 1786-1795, November 1999

Strength training improves the steadiness of slow lengthening contractions performed by old adults

Douglass H. Laidlaw1, Kurt W. Kornatz1, Douglas A. Keen2, Shuji Suzuki3, and Roger M. Enoka1

1 Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309; 2 Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721; and 3 Department of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan 359-1192

When old adults participate in a strength-training program with heavy loads, they experience an increase in muscle strength and an improvement in the steadiness of submaximal isometric contractions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of light- and heavy-load strength training on the ability of old adults to perform steady submaximal isometric and anisometric contractions. Thirty-two old adults (60-91 yr) participated in a 4-wk training program of a hand muscle. Both the light- and heavy-load groups increased one-repetition maximum and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) strength and experienced similar improvements in the steadiness of the isometric and shortening and lengthening contractions. The increase in MVC strength was greater for the heavy-load group and could not be explained by changes in muscle activation. Before training, the lengthening contractions were less steady than the shortening contractions with the lightest loads (10% MVC). After training, there was no difference in steadiness between the shortening and lengthening contractions, except with the lightest load. These improvements were associated with a reduced level of muscle activation, especially during the lengthening contractions.

aging; first dorsal interosseus; finger movement; tremor


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