These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Aging-related differences in maximum force, unloaded velocity and power of human leg multi-joint movement.
    Author: Yamauchi J, Mishima C, Nakayama S, Ishii N.
    Journal: Gerontology; 2010; 56(2):167-74. PubMed ID: 19707009.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Because many of our movements of daily living are multi-joint movements and lower limb performance decreases with aging, it is important to understand the influence of aging on muscle functions of lower limb multi-joint movements. OBJECTIVE: To investigate aging-related differences in the maximum force, unloaded velocity and power of muscles that control leg multi-joint movements. METHODS: 285 recreationally active men (n = 142) and women (n = 143) aged between 18 and 82 years volunteered for the study. Lower limb muscle function was measured with a servo-controlled dynamometer and the maximum isometric force (F(max)), unloaded velocity (V(max)) and power (P(max)) were determined by the force-velocity and force-power relations. RESULTS: With increasing age, F(max)/body mass significantly declines in both men (r = -0.400, p <0.001) and women (r = -0.587, p < 0.001), while V(max)/leg length does not change with age in either men (r = -0.033, p > 0.05) or women (r = -0.040, p > 0.05). P(max) significantly declines with age in both men (r = -0.370, p < 0.001) and women (r = -0.446, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Aging does not have effects on the shortening velocity, although it causes a decrease in maximum force and power of leg multi-joint movements. This finding suggests that decreases in muscle force-generating capacity and power may primarily lead to the loss of mobility and a reduced capability of accelerating and decelerating the body mass during the movements in elderly individuals.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]