The DOI matches its Crossref record; 129 of the 131 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Muscle morphology and performance in master athletes: A systematic review and meta-analyses
Open accessAbstract
INTRODUCTION The extent to which chronic exercise training preserves age-related decrements in physical function, muscle strength, mass and morphology is unclear. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to determine to what extent chronically trained master athletes (strength/power and endurance) preserve levels of physical function, muscle strength, muscle mass and morphology in older age, compared with older and younger controls and young trained individuals. METHODS The systematic data search included Medline, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL and Web of Science databases. INCLUSION CRITERIA i) master athletes mean exercise training duration ≥20 years ii) master athletes mean age of cohort >59 years) iii) at least one measurement of muscle mass/volume/fibre-type morphology and/or strength/physical function. RESULTS Fifty-five eligible studies were identified. Meta-analyses were carried out on maximal aerobic capacity, maximal voluntary contraction and body composition. Master endurance athletes (42.0 ± 6.6 ml kg-1 min-1) exhibited VO2max values comparable with young healthy controls (43.1 ± 6.8 ml kg-1 min-1, P = .84), greater than older controls (27.1 ± 4.3 ml kg-1 min-1, P < 0.01) and master strength/power athletes (26.5 ± 2.3 mlkg-1 min-1, P < 0.01), and lower than young endurance trained individuals (60.0 ± 5.4 ml kg-1 min-1, P < 0.01). Master strength/power athletes (0.60 (0.28-0.93) P < 0.01) and young controls (0.71 (0.06-1.36) P < 0.05) were significantly stronger compared with the other groups. Body fat% was greater in master endurance athletes than young endurance trained (-4.44% (-8.44 to -0.43) P < 0.05) but lower compared with older controls (7.11% (5.70-8.52) P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Despite advancing age, this review suggests that chronic exercise training preserves physical function, muscular strength and body fat levels similar to that of young, healthy individuals in an exercise mode-specific manner.
Overview
CoChat Summary
TL;DR
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 55 studies examined whether chronically trained master athletes (endurance and strength/power) preserve physical function, muscle strength, muscle mass and morphology in older age relative to older and younger controls and young trained individuals. The authors conclude that lifelong training preserves physical function, muscular strength and body fat at levels similar to young healthy individuals, in an exercise-mode-specific manner.
Key findings
- Master endurance athletes had VO2max (42.0 ± 6.6 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) comparable to young healthy controls (43.1 ± 6.8 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, P = .84), higher than older controls (27.1 ± 4.3 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, P < 0.01) and master strength/power athletes (26.5 ± 2.3 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, P < 0.01), and lower than young endurance-trained individuals (60.0 ± 5.4 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, P < 0.01).
- Master strength/power athletes (0.60, 0.28–0.93, P < 0.01) and young controls (0.71, 0.06–1.36, P < 0.05) were significantly stronger than the other groups.
- Body fat% was higher in master endurance athletes than in young endurance-trained individuals (−4.44%, −8.44 to −0.43, P < 0.05) but lower than in older controls (7.11%, 5.70–8.52, P < 0.01).
- Overall, the review suggests chronic training preserves physical function, muscular strength and body fat levels similar to those of young, healthy individuals, in an exercise-mode-specific manner.
Methods
- Systematic review with meta-analyses; searches of Medline, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL and Web of Science.
- Inclusion criteria: master athletes with mean exercise training duration ≥20 years; mean cohort age >59 years; and at least one measurement of muscle mass/volume/fibre-type morphology and/or strength/physical function.
- Fifty-five eligible studies were identified; meta-analyses were performed on maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), maximal voluntary contraction and body composition, comparing master athletes with older controls, younger controls and young trained individuals.
Limitations
- Not stated in the paper (the provided text reports no limitations section).
- Evident from the text: the abstract does not report heterogeneity statistics, risk-of-bias assessment, or the number of studies contributing to each meta-analysis, so the robustness of the pooled estimates cannot be judged from this record.
- Evident from the text: pooled comparisons are cross-sectional between groups (master athletes vs. older/younger controls and young trained individuals), which cannot establish causality for the observed preservation of function and morphology.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
0 Valid · 0 Not valid · 0 Not checked · 12 Own results and interpretations
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Master endurance athletes (42.0 ± 6.6 ml kg−1 min−1) exhibited VO2max values comparable with young healthy controls (43.1 ± 6.8 ml kg−1 min−1, P = .84)”
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“but lower compared with older controls (7.11% (5.70–8.52) P < 0.01)”
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“greater than older controls (27.1 ± 4.3 ml kg−1 min−1, P < 0.01) and master strength/power athletes (26.5 ± 2.3 mlkg−1 min−1, P < 0.01)”
plainstates an association- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Body fat% was greater in master endurance athletes than young endurance trained (−4.44% (−8.44 to −0.43) P < 0.05)”
plainstates an association- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“greater than older controls (27.1 ± 4.3 ml kg−1 min−1, P < 0.01)”
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
6 more claims
Create a free account to see all 12 claims and every source verdict.
- Probably not a substantial claim. 1
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“While many studies have explored age-related declines in endurance performance, comparatively few reviews [3,19] or meta-analyses [20] have summarized these effects in women masters athletes.”
From Effects of Aging on Determinants of Endurance Performance in Women Masters Athletes: A Scoping Review (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
In the citing paper
“Although several reviews examined age-, sex- and gender-related changes in endurance or strength outcomes, no reviews specifically focused on women masters athletes [20,30,31,32] or addressed menopause as a subtopic in this field.”
From Effects of Aging on Determinants of Endurance Performance in Women Masters Athletes: A Scoping Review (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
In the citing paper
“However, the available evidence regarding muscle mass and function of older Masters runners is conflicting.”
From Comparison of Muscle Function, Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition of Early Starting and Later Starting Older Masters Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as Mckendry et al., 2018
In the citing paper
“We did not measure knee extensor maximal force, but the available evidence is conflicting over the possibility that Master endurance runners have greater maximal force, mainly due to heterogeneity in study populations and several studies with low sample size (Mckendry et al., 2018).”
From Comparison of Muscle Function, Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition of Early Starting and Later Starting Older Masters Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as Mckendry et al., 2018
In the citing paper
“a comprehensive review and meta-analysis by McKendry et al. [8] demonstrated that Master athletes’ aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and body composition are generally on par with young, untrained adults.”
From Protein Requirements for Master Athletes: Just Older Versions of Their Younger Selves (2021) · cites this paper as McKendry et al. [8]
Citations
Cites
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & The PRISMA Group (2009) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097 · Cited by 64,042
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA Statement.
(2009) · PubMed Central · Cited by 44,859
Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis
Cruz-Jentoft, A. J., Baeyens, J. P., Bauer, J. M., Boirie, Y., Cederholm, T., Landi, F., Martin, F. C., Michel, J.-P., Rolland, Y., Schneider, S. M., et al. (2010) · Age and Ageing · doi:10.1093/ageing/afq034 · Cited by 11,601
Progression Models in Resistance Training for Healthy Adults
(2009) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e3181915670 · Cited by 4,332
Skeletal muscle mass and distribution in 468 men and women aged 18–88 yr
Janssen, I., Heymsfield, S. B., Wang, Z., & Ross, R. (2000) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/jappl.2000.89.1.81 · Cited by 3,087
Goodpaster, B. H., Park, S. W., Harris, T. B., Kritchevsky, S. B., Nevitt, M., Schwartz, A. V., Simonsick, E. M., Tylavsky, F. A., Visser, M., Newman, A. B., et al. (2006) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/61.10.1059 · Cited by 3,083 · cited 1×
“However, it is generally accepted that, similar to VO2max, there is an inevitable decline in muscle strength/power with ageing (Goodpaster et al., 2006; Rittweger et al., 2009), evidenced longitudinally in the performance decrements of master power vs.”
BackgroundProgression Models in Resistance Training for Healthy Adults
(2002) · Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise · doi:10.1097/00005768-200202000-00027 · Cited by 2,979
Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases
Booth, F. W., Roberts, C. K., & Laye, M. J. (2012) · Comprehensive Physiology · doi:10.1002/cphy.c110025 · Cited by 2,575
Ageing as a Risk Factor for Disease
Niccoli, T., & Partridge, L. (2012) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.07.024 · Cited by 1,831
Invited Review: Aging and sarcopenia
Doherty, T. J. (2003) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00347.2003 · Cited by 1,764
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Carrick-Ranson, 2014, The effect of lifelong exercise dose on cardiovascular function during exercise, J. Appl. Physiol., 116, 736, 10.1152/japplphysiol.00342.2013 · DOI · Paper page
- Kim, 2016, Gender-specific associations between muscle and bone losses in longitudinal changes of muscle mass and strength, and bone mass, Osteoporosis Int., 27, S384
- Power, 2010, Motor unit number estimates in masters runners: use it or lose it?, Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 42, 1644, 10.1249/mss.0b013e3181d6f9e9 · DOI
- Sonn, 1996, Longitudinal studies of dependence in daily life activities among elderly persons – methodological development, use of assistive devices and relation to impairments and functional limitations, Scand. J. Rehabil. Med., 1
- Tarpenning, 2004, Endurance training delays age of decline in leg strength and muscle morphology, Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 36, 74, 10.1249/01.mss.0000106179.73735.a6 · DOI
Cited by
Wilkinson, D. J., Piasecki, M., & Atherton, P. J. (2018) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2018.07.005 · Cited by 874
Silva, C. D. F. R., Ohara, D. G., Matos, A. P., Pinto, A. C. P. N., & Pegorari, M. S. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph182010612 · Cited by 254
Physical Exercise in the Oldest Old
Valenzuela, P. L., Castillo‐García, A., Morales, J. S., Izquierdo, M., Serra‐Rexach, J. A., Santos‐Lozano, A., & Lucia, A. (2019) · Comprehensive Physiology · doi:10.1002/cphy.c190002 · Cited by 152
Dowling, P., Gargan, S., Swandulla, D., & Ohlendieck, K. (2023) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms24032415 · Cited by 103
Valenzuela, P. L., Maffiuletti, N. A., Joyner, M. J., Lucia, A., & Lepers, R. (2020) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01252-0 · Cited by 69
Resistance Exercise, Aging, Disuse, and Muscle Protein Metabolism
McKendry, J., Stokes, T., Mcleod, J. C., & Phillips, S. M. (2021) · Comprehensive physiology · doi:10.1002/cphy.c200029 · Cited by 81
Self-citationGustafsson, T. P., & Ulfhake, B. (2024) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms252010932 · Cited by 81
Biomarkers of aging: from molecules and surrogates to physiology and function
Furrer, R., & Handschin, C. (2025) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00045.2024 · Cited by 71
Monteyne, A. J., Dunlop, M. V., Machin, D. J., Coelho, M. D. F. R., Pavis, G. F., Porter, C. C., Murton, A. J., Abdelrahman, D. R., Dirks, M. L., Stephens, F. B., et al. (2020) · British Journal Of Nutrition · doi:10.1017/s0007114520004481 · Cited by 66
Piasecki, M., Ireland, A., Piasecki, J., Degens, H., Stashuk, D. W., Swiecicka, A., Rutter, M. K., Jones, D. A., & McPhee, J. S. (2019) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.00449 · Cited by 55
Mitochondrial dysfunction in metabolism and ageing: shared mechanisms and outcomes?
López‐Lluch, G., Hernández‐Camacho, J. D., Fernández‐Ayala, D. J. M., & Navas, P. (2018) · Biogerontology · doi:10.1007/s10522-018-9768-2 · Cited by 60
Piasecki, J., Inns, T. B., Bass, J. J., Scott, R., Stashuk, D. W., Phillips, B. E., Atherton, P. J., & Piasecki, M. (2020) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jp280679 · Cited by 52
Mitochondria as Nutritional Targets to Maintain Muscle Health and Physical Function During Ageing
Broome, S. C., Whitfield, J., Karagounis, L. G., & Hawley, J. A. (2024) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-024-02072-7 · Cited by 47
McKendry, J., Coletta, G., Nunes, E. A., Lim, C., & Phillips, S. M. (2024) · Experimental Physiology · doi:10.1113/ep091937 · Cited by 47
Self-citationMcKendry, J., Joanisse, S., Baig, S., Liu, B., Parise, G., Greig, C. A., & Breen, L. (2019) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glz142 · Cited by 47
Self-citationAfonso, J. R., Andrade, R., Rocha‐Rodrigues, S., Nakamura, F. Y., Sarmento, H., Freitas, S. R., Silva, A. F., Laporta, L., Abarghoueinejad, M., Akyıldız, Z., et al. (2024) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-024-02002-7 · Cited by 36
Protein Requirements for Master Athletes: Just Older Versions of Their Younger Selves
Moore, D. R. (2021) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-021-01510-0 · Cited by 33
McKendry, J., Shad, B. J., Smeuninx, B., Oikawa, S. Y., Wallis, G., Greig, C., Phillips, S. M., & Breen, L. (2019) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.01084 · Cited by 27
Self-citationLatella, C., van den Hoek, D., Wolf, M., Androulakis‐Korakakis, P., Fisher, J. P., & Steele, J. (2023) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-023-01962-6 · Cited by 27
Schott, N., & Krull, K. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01347 · Cited by 27
Exercise Induces Different Molecular Responses in Trained and Untrained Human Muscle
Moberg, M., Lindholm, M. E., Reitzner, S. M., Ekblom, B. T., Sundberg, C. J., & Psilander, N. (2020) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000002310 · Cited by 27
Pérez-Castillo, Í. M., Rueda, R., Pereira, S. L., Bouzamondo, H., Chicharro, J. L., Segura-Ortiz, F., & Atherton, P. J. (2025) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu17223503 · Cited by 25
Kołodziej, M., Ignasiak, Z., & Ignasiak, T. (2021) · Nutrition · doi:10.1016/j.nut.2021.111342 · Cited by 24
Piasecki, J., Ireland, A., Piasecki, M., Deere, K., Hannam, K., Tobias, J., & McPhee, J. S. (2019) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.01050 · Cited by 24
Aging reduces the maximal level of peripheral fatigue tolerable and impairs exercise capacity
Zarzissi, S., Bouzid, M. A., Zghal, F., Rebai, H., & Hureau, T. J. (2020) · American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00151.2020 · Cited by 24
Kołodziej, M., Sebastjan, A., & Ignasiak, Z. (2021) · Aging Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1007/s40520-021-01879-y · Cited by 23
The use of tensiomyography in older adults: a systematic review
Puš, K., Paravlic, A. H., & Šimunič, B. (2023) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1213993 · Cited by 19
Exercise in Octogenarians: How Much Is Too Little?
Carrick‐Ranson, G., Howden, E. J., & Levine, B. D. (2021) · Annual Review of Medicine · doi:10.1146/annurev-med-070119-115343 · Cited by 19
Exercise-induced inflammatory and metabolic adaptations in ageing: A meta-analytic compendium
Sheldon, R., Gan, A., Tasong, J., Yap, A., Ahmad, M., Júnior, P. R. H., Viswanathan, K., Setti, N. S. M., Jarman, O., Hoque-Uddin, M. S., et al. (2025) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2025.102974 · Cited by 17
Moberg, M., Apró, W., Horwath, O., van Hall, G., Blackwood, S. J., & Katz, A. (2022) · Acta Physiologica · doi:10.1111/apha.13771 · Cited by 17
Duro-Ocana, P., Darabseh, M. Z., Ishihara, K., Aburub, A., Zambolin, F., Montgomery, G., Mills, R., Scorcelletti, M., Cameron, J., Ganse, B., et al. (2021) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-021-04803-4 · Cited by 16
Nutrition and physical activity countermeasures for sarcopenia: Time to get personal?
Murphy, C. H., & Roche, H. M. (2018) · Nutrition Bulletin · doi:10.1111/nbu.12351 · Cited by 15
Leslie, E., Luna, V., & Gibson, A. L. (2023) · International journal of exercise science · doi:10.70252/hsvd9987 · Cited by 14
Pethick, J., & Piasecki, M. (2022) · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · doi:10.3389/fspor.2022.817770 · Cited by 14
Rating of perceived exertion in continuous sports: a scoping review with evidence gap map
Torres, G., Maia, F., Nakamura, F. Y., Neiva, H. P., & Sousa, A. (2025) · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · doi:10.3389/fspor.2025.1553998 · Cited by 13
The Physiological Characteristics of an 83-Year-Old Champion Female Master Runner
Cattagni, T., Grémeaux, V., & Lepers, R. (2019) · International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance · doi:10.1123/ijspp.2018-0879 · Cited by 12
Vajda, M., Oreská, Ľ., Černáčková, A., Čupka, M., Tirpáková, V., Cvečka, J., Hamar, D., Protasi, F., Šarabon, N., Zampieri, S., et al. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph192013184 · Cited by 9
Becoming a World Champion Powerlifter at 71 Years of Age: It Is Never Too Late to Start Exercising
Fuchs, C. J., Trommelen, J., Weijzen, M. E. G., Smeets, J. S. J., van Kranenburg, J. M. X., Verdijk, L. B., & van Loon, L. J. C. (2024) · International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism · doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2023-0230 · Cited by 10
Fish Oil for Healthy Aging: Potential Application to Master Athletes
Murphy, C. H., & McGlory, C. (2021) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-021-01509-7 · Cited by 10
Guo, Y., Piasecki, J., Święcicka, A., Ireland, A., Phillips, B. E., Atherton, P. J., Stashuk, D. W., Rutter, M. K., McPhee, J. S., & Piasecki, M. (2021) · GeroScience · doi:10.1007/s11357-021-00482-3 · Cited by 9
Medic, N., Müssener, M., Lobinger, B., & Young, B. W. (2019) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 9
Physical activity and aging research: opportunities abound
Varesco, G., Hunter, S. K., & Rozand, V. (2021) · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism · doi:10.1139/apnm-2020-1062 · Cited by 9
Strenuous Endurance Exercise and the Heart: Physiological versus Pathological Adaptations
Valenzuela, P. L., Baggish, A. L., Castillo‐García, A., Santos‐Lozano, A., Boraíta, A., & Lucía, A. (2022) · Comprehensive physiology · doi:10.1002/cphy.c210045 · Cited by 9
Zange, J., Endres, J., Clemen, C. S., & Rittweger, J. (2025) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jp285665 · Cited by 8
How can we minimize the risks by optimizing patient's condition shortly before thoracic surgery?
Ellenberger, C., Schorer, R., Bédat, B., Hagerman, A., Triponez, F., Karenovicŝ, W., & Licker, M. J. (2021) · Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia · doi:10.4103/sja.sja_1098_20 · Cited by 8
Marshall, R. N., McKendry, J., Smeuninx, B., Seabright, A. P., Morgan, P. T., Greig, C. A., & Breen, L. (2023) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.1097988 · Cited by 8
Self-citationKołodziej, M., Ignasiak, Z., & Ignasiak, T. (2021) · Clinical Interventions in Aging · doi:10.2147/cia.s287373 · Cited by 8
Pharmacological targeting of age-related changes in skeletal muscle tissue
Leuchtmann, A. B., & Handschin, C. (2019) · Pharmacological Research · doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2019.02.030 · Cited by 7
GrönholdtKlein, M., Gorzi, A., Wang, L., Edström, E., Rullman, E., Altun, M., & Ulfhake, B. (2023) · Biology · doi:10.3390/biology12091177 · Cited by 7
Nguyen, C., Kaufman, M. W., Vallejo, A., DeParis, S., Friedlander, A. L., Frehlich, L., & Fredericson, M. (2024) · Current Sports Medicine Reports · doi:10.1249/jsr.0000000000001175 · Cited by 6
Pantazis, D., Stampoulis, T., Balampanos, D., Avloniti, A. A., Kokkotis, C., Aggelakis, P., Protopapa, M., Draganidis, D., Emmanouilidou, M., Retzepis, N.-O., et al. (2025) · Applied Sciences · doi:10.3390/app15084547 · Cited by 6
Veronese, N., Burgio, M. I., Mandalà, C., Saguto, D., Dominguez, L. J., Barbagallo, M., Smith, L., Fontana, L., Lip, G. Y. H., & Prokopidis, K. (2024) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2024.102645 · Cited by 6
What Do We Know About the Value of Sport for Older Adults? A Scoping Review
Patelia, S., Mazhar, A., & Baker, J. R. (2023) · Journal of Aging and Physical Activity · doi:10.1123/japa.2022-0146 · Cited by 6
Crossland, H., Piasecki, J., McCormick, D., Phillips, B. E., Wilkinson, D. J., Smith, K., McPhee, J. S., Piasecki, M., & Atherton, P. J. (2020) · American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00110.2020 · Cited by 5
Zubac, D., Obad, A., Ivančev, V., & Valić, Z. (2021) · Blood Pressure Monitoring · doi:10.1097/mbp.0000000000000523 · Cited by 5
Relationship Between Age and Running Kinematics in Female Recreational Runners
Hamilton, H. M., & Kakar, R. S. (2022) · Journal of Applied Biomechanics · doi:10.1123/jab.2022-0070 · Cited by 5
Changes in running biomechanics in master runners over age 50: a systematic review
Klein, M., & Patterson, C. (2023) · Sports Biomechanics · doi:10.1080/14763141.2023.2226139 · Cited by 5
Centenarians breaking records: nature or nurture?
Valenzuela, P. L., Morales, J. S., Santos‐Lozano, A., & Lucía, A. (2018) · Age and Ageing · doi:10.1093/ageing/afy089 · Cited by 4
Muscle fibre size and myonuclear positioning in trained and aged humans
Battey, E., Levy, Y., Pollock, R. D., Pugh, J. N., Close, G. L., Kalakoutis, M., Lazarus, N. R., Harridge, S. D. R., Ochala, J., & Stroud, M. J. (2024) · Experimental Physiology · doi:10.1113/ep091567 · Cited by 4
Acute Inflammatory Response to Eccentric Exercise in Young and Master Resistance-trained Athletes
Minuzzi, L. G., Ferrauti, A., Chupel, M. U., Hacker, S., Weyh, C., Valenzuela, P. L., Lucía, A., Krüger, K., & Reichel, T. (2024) · International Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1055/a-2348-0238 · Cited by 4
Helsen, W. F., Medic, N., Starkes, J. L., & WILLIAMS, A. M. (2019) · Journal of Aging and Physical Activity · doi:10.1123/japa.2018-0439 · Cited by 4
Teixeira, J. M. C., Brauer, A. G., Lima‐Silva, A. E., & Bento, P. C. B. (2022) · Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research · doi:10.1590/1414-431x2022e12383 · Cited by 4
Athletic “Oldest-Old”: Alive and Kicking
Valenzuela, P. L., García, A. C., Morales, J. S., Santos‐Lozano, A., & Lucía, A. (2019) · Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2019.03.031 · Cited by 4
It’s never too late to become an Ironman – The example of an 85-year-old triathlete
Lepers, R., & Stapley, P. J. (2019) · Movement & Sport Sciences - Science & Motricité · doi:10.1051/sm/2019024 · Cited by 3
Kołodziej, M., Koźlenia, D., Kochan-Jacheć, K., & Domaradzki, J. (2020) · Human Movement · doi:10.5114/hm.2020.95989 · Cited by 3
Fiziksel Aktivitenin Kısıtlanması: Yetişkin ve Yaşlı Yetişkin Bireyler Arasındaki Farklılıklar
Değer, E. B., & Vardar, S. A. (2021) · Uludağ Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi · doi:10.32708/uutfd.833931 · Cited by 3
McCrum, C. L., Grevendonk, L., Schaart, G., Moonen‐Kornips, E., Jörgensen, J. A., Gemmink, A., Meijer, K., & Hoeks, J. (2021) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2021.11.26.470167 · Cited by 3
Prokopidis, K. (2026) · JCSM Communications · doi:10.1002/rco2.70028 · Cited by 2
Coutinho, G. G., Duarte, L. H. C., da Silva, J. C. A., Martins, T. B., Okubo, R., Sinhorim, L. M. B., do Nascimento, I. B., & Santos, G. M. (2026) · Next research. · doi:10.1016/j.nexres.2026.101452 · Cited by 2
Hand-grip strength in recreational downhill skiers: a comparison to normative reference values
Burtscher, J., Strasser, B., Ruedl, G., Pocecco, E., Menz, V., Philippe, M., Kopp, M., & Burtscher, M. (2024) · European Journal of Translational Myology · doi:10.4081/ejtm.2024.13021 · Cited by 2
Walsh, J., Heazlewood, I., DeBeliso, M., & Climstein, M. (2020) · International Journal of Sport Exercise and Health Research · doi:10.31254/sportmed.4101 · Cited by 2
Investigation of Fasting Plasma Glucose in Masters Athletes
Walsh, J., Heazlewood, I., DeBeliso, M., & Climstein, M. (2020) · International Journal of Sport Exercise and Health Research · doi:10.31254/sportmed.4207 · Cited by 2
The Impact of Sport-discipline and Sex on Physical Fitness and Bone Markers in Athletes
Nebigh, A., Touhami, I., Chtara, M., Govindasamy, K., Surech, C., Hage, R. E., Saeidi, A., Boullosa, D. A., Clark, C. C. T., Granacher, U., et al. (2023) · International Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1055/a-2038-3040 · Cited by 2
More on the Record-Breaking Performance in a 70-Year-Old Marathoner. Reply.
Robinson, A. T., Joyner, M. J., & Farquhar, W. B. (2019) · PubMed · doi:10.1056/nejmc1906513 · Cited by 2
Senolytics and exercise: Dual modalities for rejuvenating muscle
Yesilyurt‐Dirican, Z. E., Qi, C., Okpechi, U., Ford, M. S., & Ellison, G. M. (2026) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jp287702 · Cited by 1
Kirk, B., & Piasecki, M. (2021) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119597896.ch4 · Cited by 1
Lau, T., & Oh‐Park, M. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-64316-4_19 · Cited by 1
Resistance Training Guidelines for Active Females Throughout the Lifespan, from Childhood to Elderly
Fernández-del-Valle, M., & Naclerio, F. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-15485-0_26 · Cited by 1
"Risk-Taking and Risk of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review"
Bégin, D., Morgan, A. R., Labonté, J. M., Richardson, J. A., Macedo, L. G., & Wojkowski, S. (2023) · International Journal of Physiotherapy · doi:10.15621/ijphy/2023/v10i2/1325 · Cited by 1
Safonicheva, O. G., Zaborova, V., Lazareva, I., Kryuchkova, K. Y., Bolotskaya, A. A., Ovchinnikova, M., Popova, C. Y., Putilo, V., Rybakov, V., Kotovskiy, S., et al. (2023) · Clinical Interventions in Aging · doi:10.2147/cia.s433944 · Cited by 1
Klein, M., Patterson, C., Karim, A., & Cuddeford, T. J. (2024) · Sports Biomechanics · doi:10.1080/14763141.2024.2373376 · Cited by 1
Strength Training Among Male Master Cyclists—Practices, Challenges, and Rationales
Vikestad, V., & Dalen, T. (2024) · Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology · doi:10.3390/jfmk9040232 · Cited by 1
Hopping kinetic differences in masters runners with and without Achilles tendinopathy
Klein, M., Patterson, C., Karim, A., & Cuddeford, T. J. (2025) · Sports Biomechanics · doi:10.1080/14763141.2025.2451689 · Cited by 1
The effect of lifelong physical (in)activity on knee extensor force controlPreprint
Pethick, J. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.02.28.530405 · Cited by 1
Valenzuela, P. L., Maffiuletti, N. A., Lucía, A., & Lepers, R. (2019) · Age and Ageing · doi:10.1093/ageing/afz106
Gollie, J. M. (2019) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-60912-8.00028-2
Impacto da saúde bucal na aptidão física para a categoria master
de Souza, B. C., Carteri, R. B., & Lopes, A. L. (2021) · Revista Brasileira de Fisiologia do Exercício · doi:10.33233/rbfex.v19i6.3947
Skeletal muscle health in aging: a focus on mitochondria, metabolism and physical performance
Grevendonk, L. (2021) · Research Publications (Maastricht University) · doi:10.26481/dis.20211006lg
Runacres, A. (2021) · Cronfa (Swansea University) · doi:10.23889/suthesis.58683
Brauer, A. G., da Silva, A. E. L., Teixeira, J. L., Mayor, J. J. V., & Bento, P. C. B. (2023) · Journal of Physical Education and Sport · doi:10.7752/jpes.2023.07219
Hamilton, H. M., Bennett, H. J., Mariano, M., Lowe, D. A., & Kakar, R. S. (2024) · Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal · doi:10.1123/wspaj.2024-0026
Maximal oxygen uptake of master swimmers in incremental intermittent swimming test: effects of aging
Trindade, C. D. Z., Schneider, C. D., Guimard, A., & Castro, F. A. D. S. (2025) · Sport Sciences for Health · doi:10.1007/s11332-025-01401-1
Early-life endurance sports lowers frailty and falls in former male athletes
Bas, K. G., Sıngın, R. H. Ö., & Denizci, T. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-21428-1
Monteiro, D. R. F. (2023) · Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
O Cuidador de pessoas idosas: um trabalho a ser reconhecido
Mendes, F. (2022) · Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
Developing a Scale to Examine Aging-Related Assets Developed Through Sport in Older Adults
Patelia, S. (2023) · YorkSpace (York University)
Cannella, V. (2023) · Tesis Doctorals en Xarxa (Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya)
The masters, older, and senior athletes
Lazzoli, J. K., FOSSATI, C., Pigozzi, F., Bigard, X. A., Kopiler, D. A., Bravi, M., & Nahon, R. L. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-31638-8.00003-2
Pilotto, A., Higueras-Liébana, E., Ansaldo, M., Baltasar‐Fernandez, I., Neri, M., Giusti, L., Buendía‐Romero, Á., Valenzuela, P. L., Alcázar, J., Lauretani, F., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2025.1735019
Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya. Facultat d'Educació, T. (2026) · RIUVic
Metadata
- Authors
- Mckendry, J., Breen, L., Shad, B. J., & Greig, C. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- Arthritis Research UK (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Mckendry, James
- Venue
- Ageing Research Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-08
- Volume
- 45
- Pages
- 62-82
- ISSN
- 1568-1637 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2799276939
- Semantic Scholar
- 4e7995e28ef206fee2b2ba908de18ce3a867fb52
- Cited by
- 111
- References
- 131
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 1.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Ageing Research Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Keywords
- master athletes, exercise training, muscle morphology, muscle strength, muscle mass, physical function, endurance training, cardiorespiratory fitness, VO2max, body composition, body fat percentage, aging, older adults
- MeSH terms
- Physical Functional Performance, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Exercise Test, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Physical Endurance, Exercise, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Muscle Strength, Athletes
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-11-14, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).
A second model labelled each claim on 2026-11-14 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
Data sources
Bibliographic data: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Crossref.
Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
Semantic Scholar’s data is described in: Kinney, R., et al. (2023). The Semantic Scholar Open Data Platform. arXiv:2301.10140.
