Calf muscle strength in former elite distance runners.
The purpose of this investigation was to examine calf muscle strength and cross-sectional area in 29 middle-aged men (current mean = 48.3 +/- 3.1 years) who had significant differences in their physical activity levels. These men were initially evaluated to determine the physiological requirements for successful distance running in the late 1960s at a time when they were all considered elite distance runners. Based on their training regimens in the interim between testing, subjects were described as highly trained (HI; n = 10), fitness trained (FIT; n = 12), or untrained (UT; n = 7). In addition, an aged-matched sedentary group (CON; n = 7) was tested. Each subject was evaluated for VO2max, plantar flexion calf muscle strength and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the lower leg (gastrocnemius and soleus). Muscle CSA was determined by computed tomography, whereas calf strength measurements were made using a specially designed leg restraint system and an isokinetic dynamometer. There were no significant differences in plantar flexion strength (at 60 and 180 degrees/s) or CSA of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles among the groups. Calf muscle strength per CSA was also similar at both test velocities for all groups. These data demonstrate that middle-aged distance runners who have continued to run at a relatively high level for 20-25 years have similar calf muscle CSA and strength compared with aged-matched males who run significantly less or not at all.
Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 47304, USA.
S W
SW
Trappe
D L
DL
Costill
B H
BH
Goodpaster
D R
DR
Pearson
D001706:Biopsy; D001823:Body Composition; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed