title: Anaerobic power of the arms and legs of young and older men.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the anaerobic exercise performance of young and older men. Eight healthy, active older (68.5 +/- 2.4 years old, mean S.D.) and eight healthy, active young (30.6 +/- 4.5 years old) subjects were assessed for peak and mean power output (PP and MP, respectively) of the legs and arms, during 30 s Wingate tests. PP during leg exercise was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the young (14.6 +/- 1.6 W kg-1) compared with the older (10.7 +/- 1.0 W kg-1) group. MP of the legs was also greater in the young subjects (10.7 +/- 0.7 vs. 7.4 +/- 0.9 W kg-1). These differences in PP and MP remained significant when expressed relative to lean leg volume. PP during arm cranking was significantly greater in the young subjects (8.9 +/- 0.7 vs. 7.5 +/- 0.6 W kg-1) as was MP (6.4 +/- 0.7 vs. 5.0 +/- 0.7 W kg-1). Post-exercise blood lactate concentration in the older group (7.0 +/- 1.6 mmol l-1) was less (P < 0.05) than in the young group (10.6 +/- 2.0 mmol l-1), for leg work only. The significant loss of anaerobic power in the older group could not be explained by a difference in muscle mass. Power output was also lower in the arms, but to a lesser extent. The results of this study suggest that a reduction in the ability to perform high intensity exercise may be an inevitable consequence of ageing. The extent, however, of this decline varies with different muscle groups.
authors.affiliation: Division of Imaging, and Division of Activity and Ageing, The Lawson Research Institute, St Joseph's Health Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.gdmarsh@julian.uwo.ca
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Govindasamy
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001132:Arm; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology