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1 Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Alsager, United Kingdom
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: N.Reeves{at}mmu.ac.uk.
Strength training in old age produces considerable strength gains, but it remains unknown if muscle specific force (force per unit area) also increases. Hence, the present study assessed in vivo, muscle specific force following strength training in old age. Eighteen older men and women were assigned to training (n = 9, age 74.3 ± 3.5 years; mean ±SD) and non-training control (n = 9, age 67.1 ± 2 years) groups. Training consisted of leg-extension and leg-press exercises (2 sets of 10 repetitions, at 80% of the 5RM) performed 3 times per week, for 14 weeks. Vastus lateralis (VL) muscle fascicle force was calculated from measurements of maximal isometric voluntary knee extensor torque with superimposed supra-maximal stimuli, accounting for the patella tendon moment arm length determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound-based measurements of pennation angle and fascicle length, and antagonist muscle co-contraction estimated from measurements of electromyographic (EMG) activity. Physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) was calculated from the ratio of muscle volume to fascicle length. Specific force was calculated by dividing fascicle force by PCSA. Fascicle force increased by 11% from 847.9 ± 365.3 N before, to 939.3 ± 347.8 N after training (P < 0.05). Due to a relatively greater increase in fascicle length (11%) as compared to the increase in muscle volume (6%), PCSA remained unchanged (pre training: 30.4 ± 8.9 cm2; post training: 29.1 ± 8.4 cm2; P > 0.05). An increase in activation capacity and VL muscle root mean square (RMS) EMG activity by 5% and 40% respectively, indicated an increased neural drive of the agonists following training (P < 0.05), whilst co-contraction of antagonists remained unchanged (P > 0.05). The VL muscle specific force increased by 19%, from 27 ± 6.3 N.cm-2 before, to 32.1 ± 7.4 N.cm-2 after training (P < 0.01), highlighting the effectiveness of strength training for increasing the intrinsic force-producing capacity of skeletal muscle in old age.
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