title: Decline in lumbar extensor muscle strength the older adults: correlation with age, gender and spine morphology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Muscle morphology, age and gender may be determinants of muscle strength in older adults. However, very few research studies have directly examined such correlation in the ageing spine. The aim of the study was to examine the correlation between lumbar extensor muscle strength, its muscle fibre angles, thoracolumbar curvature, age and gender in the older and younger adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Muscle fibre angles of lumbar extensor muscles, thoracolumbar curvature and lumbar extensor muscle strength were examined in 26 young (mean age 27.9, SD 5.2) and 26 older (mean age 72.1, SD 5.9) participants. Pearson's correlation was employed to determine the association among lumbar extensor muscle fibre angle, thoracolumbar curvature, age, gender and lumbar extensor muscle strength. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to identify significant determinants of lumbar extensor muscle strength.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated a significant correlation between lumbar extensor muscle strength, muscle fibre angle, age and gender. In the step wise regression analysis, both gender and age were identified as the most robust determinant for lumbar extensor muscle strength in older adults. However, gender was the only determinant of muscle strength in the young.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the decline in the lumbar extensor muscle strength in older adults was more dependent on age when compared to younger adults.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Jalan Raja Muda Aziz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia. devinderkas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Devinder Kaur Ajit
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013121:Spinal Curvatures / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult