title: Muscle torque in young and older untrained and endurance-trained men.
abstract: Plantar flexor torque was measured in 24 young (25 +/- 1.4 y) and older (62 +/- 2 y) untrained and endurance-trained men to test the hypothesis that age-associated declines in muscle function would be attenuated in older men who also endurance trained. Endurance-trained subjects averaged 7-9 h/wk of aerobic activity for 10-12 years. These subjects had not engaged in resistance training previously in the past 10 years. Plantar flexor torque was measured at velocities between 0 and 5.23 rads. s-1. In absolute terms, maximal isometric torque was 23% lower in older men compared to young men, regardless of their training status. On the other hand, relative measures of isometric strength (i.e., torque.muscle cross-sectional area-1 and torque.muscle volume-1) were similar in young and older men but were higher in trained than in untrained men. Isokinetic torque.muscle cross-sectional area-1 and torque.muscle volume-1 was greater at contraction velocities of 0.26-2.09 rads.s-1 for trained subjects. These data suggest that endurance training does not attenuate the age-associated loss of muscle mass or absolute strength. However, endurance training might reduce the extent of loss of relative strength because torque-muscle cross-sectional area-1 and torque.muscle volume-1 are greater in endurance-trained older men than in untrained older men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Alway
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Coggan
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sproul
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abduljalil
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Robitaille
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness