Cited by 73Nutrition and Health in AgingBalance, Gait, and Falls PreventionCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Voluntary muscle activation improves with power training and is associated with changes in gait speed in mobility-limited older adults — A randomized controlled trial

Hvid, Lars G., Strotmeyer, Elsa S., Skjødt, Mathias, Magnussen, Line V., Andersen, Marianne, Caserotti, Paolo·2016·Experimental Gerontology

Abstract

Incomplete voluntary muscle activation may contribute to impaired muscle mechanical function and physical function in older adults. Exercise interventions have been shown to increase voluntary muscle activation, although the evidence is sparse for mobility-limited older adults, particularly in association with physical function. This study examined the effects of 12weeks of power training on outcomes of voluntary muscle activation and gait speed in mobility-limited older adults from the Healthy Ageing Network of Competence (HANC) study. We included 37 older men and women with a usual gait speed of <0.9m/s in the per-protocol analysis: n=16 in the training group (TG: 12weeks of progressive high-load power training, 2 sessions per week; age: 82.3±1.3years, 56% women) and n=21 in the control group (CG: no interventions; age: 81.6±1.1years, 67% women). Knee extensor muscle thickness (ultrasonography), strength (isokinetic dynamometry), voluntary activation (interpolated twitch technique), and gait speed (2-min maximal walking test) were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. At baseline, TG and CG were comparable for all measures. Post-intervention, significant between-group changes (TG vs. CG; p<0.05) were observed for voluntary muscle activation (+6.2%), muscle strength (+13.4Nm), and gait speed (+0.12m/s), whereas the between-group change in muscle thickness was non-significant (+0.08cm). Improvements in voluntary muscle activation were associated with improvements in gait speed in TG (r=0.67, p<0.05). Importantly, voluntary muscle activation is improved in mobility-limited older adults following 12-weeks of progressive power training, and is associated with improved maximal gait speed. Incomplete voluntary muscle activation should be considered one of the key mechanisms influencing muscle mechanical function and gait speed in older adults.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.exger.2016.03.018

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Authors
Hvid, L. G., Strotmeyer, E. S., Skjødt, M., Magnussen, L. V., Andersen, M., & Caserotti, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Southern Denmark (DK)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • Odense University Hospital (DK)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Hvid, Lars G.
Venue
Experimental Gerontology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-07
Volume
80
Pages
51-56
ISSN
0531-5565 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2340485167
Cited by
73
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 1
FWCI
4.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Experimental Gerontology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • INTERREG 4a
  • European Regional Development Fund
  • European Union (PI: Paolo Caserotti (104-1.5-11)
  • Municipality of Odense, Denmark
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
voluntary activation, power training, walking speed, knee extensors, muscle strength, muscle thickness, physical function, high-load resistance training, interpolated twitch technique
MeSH terms
Walking Speed, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Denmark, Female, Humans, Male, Muscle, Skeletal, Mobility Limitation, Muscle Strength, Resistance Training

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