Greater loss in muscle mass and function but smaller metabolic alterations in older compared with younger men following 2 wk of bed rest and recovery
Open accessAbstract
This investigation aimed to compare the response of young and older adult men to bed rest (BR) and subsequent rehabilitation (R). Sixteen older (OM, age 55-65 yr) and seven young (YM, age 18–30 yr) men were exposed to a 14-day period of BR followed by 14 days of R. Quadriceps muscle volume (QVOL), force (QF), and explosive power (QP) of leg extensors; single-fiber isometric force (Fo); peak aerobic power (V̇o 2peak); gait stride length; and three metabolic parameters, Matsuda index of insulin sensitivity, postprandial lipid curve, and homocysteine plasma level, were measured before and after BR and after R. Following BR, QVOL was smaller in OM (−8.3%) than in YM (−5.7%, P = 0.031); QF (−13.2%, P = 0.001), QP (−12.3%, P = 0.001), and gait stride length (−9.9%, P = 0.002) were smaller only in OM. Fo was significantly smaller in both YM (−32.0%) and OM (−16.4%) without significant differences between groups. V̇o 2peak decreased more in OM (−15.3%) than in YM (−7.6%, P < 0.001). Instead, the Matsuda index fell to a greater extent in YM than in OM (−46.0% vs. −19.8%, respectively, P = 0.003), whereas increases in postprandial lipid curve (+47.2%, P = 0.013) and homocysteine concentration (+26.3%, P = 0.027) were observed only in YM. Importantly, after R, the recovery of several parameters, among them QVOL, QP, and V̇o 2peak, was not complete in OM, whereas Fo did not recover in either age group. The results show that the effect of inactivity on muscle mass and function is greater in OM, whereas metabolic alterations are greater in YM. Furthermore, these findings show that the recovery of preinactivity conditions is slower in OM.
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Bed rest has a substantial impact on muscle function, established in a decline in performance.
“Moreover, bed rest has a substantial impact on muscle function established in a decline in performance (9, 10).”
From Nonuniform loss of muscle strength and atrophy during bed rest: a systematic review (2021) · cites this paper as [10]
The Results (page unavailable) report significant declines in quadriceps force and power after 14 days of bed rest in older men, supporting a decline in muscle performance. Those measures did not decline significantly in younger men, so the unqualified statement is broader than this study's finding. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe degree of atrophy varies between disuse models.
“Third, aside from atrophic differences for muscle groups, the degree of atrophy varies between disuse models: within the pool of models proposed to examine disuse, including horizontal (e.g., Refs. 10, 18) and head-down tilt bed rest (e.g., Refs. 33, 56), lower limb suspension (83, 98–100), limb immobilization (101, 102), microgravity exposure (103, 104), and head-out dry and water immersion (105,”
From Nonuniform loss of muscle strength and atrophy during bed rest: a systematic review (2021) · cites this paper as [10]
This systematic review is in general agreement with the majority of other bed rest trials, which report that muscle strength is compromised to a greater extent than muscle size following bed rest.
“Our systematic review is in general agreement with the majority of other bed rest trials, which report that muscle strength is compromised to a greater extent than muscle size following bed rest (6, 7, 10, 18, 19, 21–23, 56, 58).”
From Nonuniform loss of muscle strength and atrophy during bed rest: a systematic review (2021) · cites this paper as [10]
The healthy population of younger adults will differ substantially from the healthy older and clinical population.
“The healthy population of younger adults will differ substantially from the healthy older (10) and clinical population.”
From Nonuniform loss of muscle strength and atrophy during bed rest: a systematic review (2021) · cites this paper as [10]
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References 39 · Cited by 150
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Pearson SJ, Young A, Macaluso A, Devito G, Nimmo MA, Cobbold M, Harridge SD. Muscle function in elite master weightlifters. Med Sci Sports Exerc 34: 1199 -1206, 2002.
- Authors
- Pišot, R., Marusic, U., Biolo, G., Mazzucco, S., Lazzer, S., Grassi, B., Reggiani, C., Toniolo, L., di Prampero, P. E., Passaro, A., Narici, M., Mohammed, S., Rittweger, J., Gasparini, M., Gabrijelčič Blenkuš, M., & Šimunič, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Primorska (SI)
- Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Centre, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia;
- University of Trieste (IT)
- University of Udine (IT)
- University of Padua (IT)
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy;
- University of Ferrara (IT)
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany;
- Izola General Hospital (SI)
- National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Corresponding author
- Grassi, Bruno
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2016-04-15
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 922-929
- ISSN
- 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
- 8750-7587
- 1522-1601
- OpenAlex
- W2296046593
- Cited by
- 150
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 9
- FWCI
- 13.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ArTS Archivio della ricerca di Trieste (University of Trieste https://www.units.it/) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Institutional Research Information System (University of Udine) (submittedVersion)
- elib (German Aerospace Center) (submittedVersion)
- Institutional Research Information System University of Ferrara (University of Ferrara) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Spaceflight effects on biology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Keywords
- bed rest, muscle atrophy, muscle function, aging, older men, rehabilitation, cardiorespiratory fitness, insulin sensitivity, Matsuda index, postprandial lipemia, homocysteine, age differences
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aging, Bed Rest, Homocysteine, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Lipids, Male, Middle Aged, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Young Adult
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