Longitudinal decline of lower extremity muscle power in healthy and mobility-limited older adults: influence of muscle mass, strength, composition, neuromuscular activation and single fiber contractile properties.
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Purpose This longitudinal study examined the major physiological mechanisms that determine the age-related loss of lower extremity muscle power in two distinct groups of older humans. We hypothesized that after ~3 years of follow-up, mobility-limited older adults (mean age: 77.2 ± 4, n = 22, 12 females) would have significantly greater reductions in leg extensor muscle power compared to healthy older adults (74.1 ± 4, n = 26, 12 females).Methods Mid-thigh muscle size and composition were assessed using computed tomography. Neuromuscular activation was quantified using surface electromyography and vastus lateralis single muscle fibers were studied to evaluate intrinsic muscle contractile properties.Results At follow-up, the overall magnitude of muscle power loss was similar between groups: mobility-limited: -8.5 % vs. healthy older: -8.8 %, P > 0.8. Mobility-limited elders had significant reductions in muscle size (-3.8 %, P < 0.01) and strength (-5.9 %, P < 0.02), however, these parameters were preserved in healthy older (P ≥ 0.7). Neuromuscular activation declined significantly within healthy older, but not in mobility-limited participants. Within both groups, the cross-sectional areas of type I and IIA muscle fibers were preserved while substantial increases in single fiber peak force (>30 %), peak power (>200 %) and unloaded shortening velocity (>50 %) were elicited at follow-up.Conclusion Different physiological mechanisms contribute to the loss of lower extremity muscle power in healthy older and mobility-limited older adults. Neuromuscular changes may be the critical early determinant of muscle power deficits with aging. In response to major whole muscle decrements, major compensatory mechanisms occur within the contractile properties of surviving single muscle fibers in an attempt to restore overall muscle power and function with advancing age.
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During the aging process, muscle power decreases at a faster rate than strength.
“During the aging process, muscle power decreases at a faster rate than strength,11”
From Comparison of Power Training vs Traditional Strength Training on Physical Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (2022) · cites this paper as [11]
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- Authors
- Reid, K. F., Pasha, E., Doros, G., Clark, D. J., Patten, C., Phillips, E. M., Frontera, W. R., & Fielding, R. A.
- Affiliations
- Tufts University (US)
- Boston University (US)
- University of Florida (US)
- University of Florida Health (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Fielding, Roger A.
- ORCID
- Venue
- European Journal of Applied Physiology
- Published
- 2013-10-13
- Volume
- 114
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 29-39
- ISSN
- 0020-9376 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-6319
- 1439-6327
- PMC
- PMC3945182
- OpenAlex
- W2090731161
- Cited by
- 246
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 8
- FWCI
- 8.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- European Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5p30ag031679-15)
- National Institute on Aging (1 P30 AG031679, AG18844, P30-AG031679, R01AG018844, P30AG028740)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R24HD065688)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- aging, lower extremity, leg extensors, neuromuscular activation, muscle fiber composition, muscle strength, muscle mass, unloaded shortening velocity, compensatory mechanisms, surface electromyography
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Muscle Contraction, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Case-Control Studies, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Lower Extremity, Mobility Limitation, Quadriceps Muscle, Muscle Strength
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