Jumping height in former elite athletes.
To evaluate lower-limb explosive strength with respect to lifetime athletic activity, we measured vertical jumping height on a contact mat in former male runners (n = 28). soccer players (n = 31), weightlifters (n = 29) and shooters (n = 29) (age range 45 68 years). There were no statistically significant age-adjusted sport-group differences in jumping height, but differences by sport were evident among the subgroup of athletes without hip or knee osteoarthritis (n = 65) (P < 0.05). Thus, sports that increased jumping height also predisposed to lower-limb osteoarthritis. After adjustment for age and sport, the subjects without osteoarthritis jumped higher than those with osteoarthritis (n = 33) (P < 0.01). In a multiple linear regression analysis, age, reported hip and knee disability, and knee pain reduced jumping height. Hours spent in team-training during the past 12 months and the hours spent during their lifetime in power training were associated with improved vertical jumping height and together explained 41% of the difference among the subjects. The ability to jump even among athletes with hip or knee osteoarthritis would suggest that former elite athletes possess advanced lower limb muscle function.
Kettunen
J A
JA
Unit for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Kujala
U M
UM
Räty
H
H
Sarna
S
S
D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology