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J Appl Physiol (February 2, 2006). doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01442.2005
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Submitted on November 15, 2005
Accepted on February 1, 2006

Calf muscle-tendon properties and postural balance in old age

Gladys L. Onambele1*, Marco V. Narici1, and Constantinos N. Maganaris1

1 Institute for Biophysical & Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: g.pearson{at}mmu.ac.uk.

We tested the hypothesis that compromised postural balance in older subjects is associated with changes in calf muscle-tendon physiological and mechanical properties. Trial duration and centre of pressure (COP) displacements were measured in 24 younger (aged 24±1 years), 10 middle-aged (aged 46±1 years) and 36 older (aged 68±1 years) healthy subjects under varying levels of postural difficulty. Muscle-tendon characteristics were assessed by dynamometry, twitch superimposition and ultrasonography. In tandem and single-leg stances, trial duration decreased (≤65% lower, P<0.001) and COP displacements increased (≤90% higher, P<0.05) with age. Muscle strength, size, activation capacity and tendon mechanical properties decreased with age by 55, 13, 13 and 36-48%, respectively (P<0.05). Regressions with these parameters and balance indices were significant (P<0.05) for single-leg and tandem (0.69<r2<0.90) postures only, indicating that the age-related changes in muscle-tendon characteristics may explain the majority of the variance in balance performance during tasks more difficult than habitual bipedal stance.




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