Age and sex differentially affect regional changes in one repetition maximum strength.
To assess the influences of age and sex on regional changes in 1 repetition maximum (1RM) strength, 10 young men (20-30 years), 8 young women (20-30 years), 11 older men (65- 75 years), and 10 older women (65-75 years) were studied before and after a 24-week whole-body strength training program. Changes in 1RM strength were analyzed for each individual exercise, as well as by calculating a total body score (TBS), an upper body score (UBS), and a lower body score (LBS). The effect of age and sex on changes in 1RM strength was analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance. When changes in strength for individual exercises were analyzed, the chest press, lat pulldown, shoulder press, and triceps pushdown were affected by both age (p < 0.05) and sex (p < 0.05), while the biceps curls were only influenced by age (p < 0.05). For the lower body, the leg press changes in 1RM strength were influenced by age (p < 0.0001), while leg extension was influenced by sex (p < 0.05). Total body score, UBS, and LBS showed significant increases with 24 weeks of ST (p < 0.001, all). Changes in TBS and UBS were affected by age (p < 0.001, both) and sex (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Younger subjects showed a greater increase in strength than older subjects, and men showed a greater increase in strength compared with women. Changes in LBS were affected by age (p < 0.001), with younger subjects showing a greater increase in strength compared with the older subjects, but not by sex (p = 0.464). These data indicate that regional increases in strength are differentially affected by age and sex.
Lemmer
Jeffrey T
JT
Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA. jlemmer@msu.edu
Martel
Gregory F
GF
Hurlbut
Diane E
DE
Hurley
Ben F
BF
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors