Int J Sports Med 2018; 39(02): 124-132
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-121149
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Age, Joint Angle, and Test Modality on Strength Production and Functional Outcomes

Brennan J. Thompson
1   Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, United States
,
Morgan Whitson
2   Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, United States
,
Eric J. Sobolewski
3   Health Sciences, Furman University, Greenville, United States
,
Matt S. Stock
4   Health Professions, University of Central Florida, Orlando, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 28 September 2017

Publication Date:
17 November 2017 (online)

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of age, knee joint angle, and strength testing modality on lower body maximal and rapid strength production and assessed the transferability of these characteristics to mobility-related function. Twenty young (age=21.9 yrs) and eighteen elderly (71.1 yrs) adults performed single-joint and multiple-joint isometric maximal voluntary contractions at three knee angles. Outcome measures included peak torque (PT), rate of torque development (RTD), jump height, power, 10 and 400 m walk, and timed chair stand. Older adults exhibited greater reductions in RTD for the multiple-joint (45%) than for the single-joint mode (18%). The 10 m walk was best predicted by multiple-joint RTD at 90°, the 400 m walk by jump height, and the chair stand by single-joint PT at 20°. Single-joint strength tests may underestimate age-related rapid strength impairments, likely due to requirements to exert muscular force in excess of one’s body mass in an upright position.

 
  • References

  • 1 Allison SJ, Brooke-Wavell K, Folland JP. Multiple joint muscle function with ageing: the force-velocity and power-velocity relationships in young and older men. Aging Clin Exp Res 2013; 25: 159-166
  • 2 Andersen LL, Aagaard P. Influence of maximal muscle strength and intrinsic muscle contractile properties on contractile rate of force development. Eur J Appl Physiol 2006; 96: 46-52
  • 3 Billot M, Duclay J, Simoneau-Buessinger EM, Ballay Y, Martin A. Is co-contraction responsible for the decline in maximal knee joint torque in older males?. Age 2014; 36: 899-910
  • 4 Choquette S, Bouchard DR. Relative strength as a determinant of mobility in elders 67-84 years of age. A nuage study: Nutrition as a determinant of successful aging. J Nutr Health Aging 2010; 14: 190-195
  • 5 Clark B, Manini T. Sarcopenia not equal to dynapenia. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2008; 63A: 829-834
  • 6 Clark D, Manini T, Fielding R, Patten C. Neuromuscular determinants of maximum walking speed in well-functioning older adults. Exp Gerontol 2013; 48: 358-363
  • 7 Clark D, Reid K, Patten C, Phillips E, Ring S, Wu S, Fielding R. Does quadriceps neuromuscular activation capability explain walking speed in older men and women?. Exp Gerontol 2014; 55: 49-53
  • 8 de Ruiter CJ, Kooistra RD, Paalman MI, de Haan A. Initial phase of maximal voluntary and electrically stimulated knee extension torque development at different knee angles. J Appl Physiol 2004; 97: 1693-1701
  • 9 Fisher N, Pendergast D, Calkins E. Maximal isometric torque of knee extension as a function of muscle length in subjects of advancing age. Arch Phys Med Rehab 1990; 71: 729-734
  • 10 Guralnik J, Ferrucci L, Pieper C. Lower extremity function and subsequent disability consistency across studies predictive models and value of gait speed. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2000; 55A: M221-M231
  • 11 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2016 update. Int J Sports Med 2015; 36: 1121-1124
  • 12 Hortobagyi T, Zheng D, Weidner M, Lambert NJ, Westbrook S, Houmard JA. The influence of aging on muscle strength and muscle fiber characteristics with special reference to eccentric strength. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 1995; 50: B399-B406
  • 13 Izquierdo M, Aguado X, Gonzalez R, Lopez J, Hakkinen K. Maximal and explosive force production capacity and balance performance in men of different ages. Eur J Appl Physiol 1999; 79: 260-267
  • 14 Jenkins ND, Housh TJ, Buckner SL, Bergstrom HC, Smith CM, Cochrane KC, Hill EC, Miramonti AA, Schmidt RJ, Johnson GO, Cramer JT. Four weeks of high- versus low-load resistance training to failure on the rate of torque development, electromechanical delay, and contractile twitch properties. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 2016; 16: 135-144
  • 15 Ko S, Hausdorf J, Ferrucci L. Age-associated differences in the gait pattern changes of older adults during fast-speed and fatigue conditions: results from the Baltimore longitudinal study of ageing. Age Ageing 2010; 39: 688-694
  • 16 Lanza I, Larsen R, Kent-Braun J. Effects of old age on human skeletal muscle energetics during fatiguing contractions with and without blood flow. J Physiol 2007; 583: 1093-1105
  • 17 Lanza I, Towse T, Caldwell G, Wigmore D, Kent-Braun J. Effects of age on human muscle torque, velocity, and power in two muscle groups. J Appl Physiol 2003; 95: 2361-2369
  • 18 Macaluso A, De Vito G. Comparison between young and older women in explosive power output and its determinants during a single leg-press action after optimisation of load. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 90: 458-463
  • 19 Manini TM, Visser M, Won-Park S, Patel KV, Strotmeyer ES, Chen H, Goodpaster B, De Rekeneire N, Newman AB, Simonsick EM, Kritchevsky SB, Ryder K, Schwartz AV, Harris TB. Knee extension strength cutpoints for maintaining mobility. J Am Geriatr Soc 2007; 55: 451-457
  • 20 Mayfield DL, Cresswell AG, Lichtwark GA. Effects of series elastic compliance on muscle force summation and the rate of force rise. J Exp Biol 2016; 219: 3261-3270
  • 21 Methenitis S, Karandreas N, Spengos K, Zaras N, Stasinaki AN, Terzis G. Muscle fiber conduction velocity, muscle fiber composition, and power performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2016; 48: 1761-1771
  • 22 Mitchell WK, Williams J, Atherton P, Larvin M, Lund J, Narici M. Sarcopenia, dynapenia, and the impact of advancing age on human skeletal muscle size and strength; a quantitative review. Front Physiol 2012; 3: 260
  • 23 Moore AA, Caturegli G, Metter EJ, Makrogiannis S, Resnick SM, Harris TB, Ferrucci L. Difference in muscle quality over the adult life span and biological correlates in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. J Am Geriatr Soc 2014; 62: 230-236
  • 24 Morse CI, Thom JM, Davis MG, Fox KR, Birch KM, Narici MV. Reduced plantarflexor specific torque in the elderly is associated with a lower activation capacity. Eur J Appl Physiol 2004; 92: 219-226
  • 25 Narici MV, Maffulli N, Maganaris CN. Ageing of human muscles and tendons. Disabil Rehabil 2008; 30: 1548-1554
  • 26 Narici MV, Maganaris CN, Reeves ND, Capodaglio P. Effect of aging on human muscle architecture. J Appl Physiol 2003; 95: 2229-2234
  • 27 Newman AB, Simonsick EM, Naydeck BL, Boudreau RM, Kritchevsky SB, Nevitt MC, Pahor M, Satterfield S, Brach JS, Studenski SA, Harris TB. Association of long distance corridor walk performance with mortality CVD mobility limitation and disability. JAMA 2006; 295: 2018-2027
  • 28 Owings TM, Grabiner MD. Normally aging older adults demonstrate the bilateral deficit during ramp and hold contractions. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 1998; 53: B425-B429
  • 29 Samuel D, Rowe P, Hood V, Nicol A. The biomechanical functional demand placed on knee and hip muscles of older adults during stair ascent and descent. Gait Posture 2011; 34: 239-244
  • 30 Savelberg HH, Meijer K. The effect of age and joint angle on the proportionality of extensors and flexor strength at the knee joint. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2004; 59A: 1120-1128
  • 31 Sayers SP, Guralnik JM, Newman AB, Brach JS, Fielding RA. Concordance and discordance between two measures of lower extremity function: 400 meter self-paced walk and SPPB. Aging Clin Exp Res 2006; 18: 100-106
  • 32 Taniguchi Y, Burle B, Vidal F, Bonnet M. Deficit in motor cortical activity for simultaneous bimanual responses. Exp Brain Res 2001; 137: 259-268
  • 33 Thompson BJ, Stock MS. Barbell deadlift training increases the rate of torque development and vertical jump performance in novices. J Strength Cond Res 2015; 29: 1-10
  • 34 Thompson BJ, Ryan ED, Herda TJ, Costa PB, Herda AA, Cramer JT. Age-related changes in the rate of muscle activation and rapid force characteristics. Age 2014; 36: 839-849
  • 35 Thompson BJ, Ryan ED, Sobolewski EJ. The influence of occupation and age on maximal and rapid lower extremity strength. Appl Ergon 2015; 50: 62-67
  • 36 Thompson BJ, Ryan ED, Sobolewski EJ, Conchola EC, Cramer JT. Age related differences in maximal and rapid torque characteristics of the leg extensors and flexors in young, middle-aged and old men. Exp Gerontol 2013; 48: 277-282
  • 37 Thompson BJ, Stock MS, Banuelas VK. Effects of accumulating work shifts on performance-based fatigue using multiple strength measurements in day and night shift nurses and aides. Hum Factors 2017; 59: 346-356
  • 38 Van Cutsem M, Duchateau J, Hainaut K. Changes in single motor unit behaviour contribute to the increase in contraction speed after dynamic training in humans. J Physiol 1998; 513 Pt 1 295-305
  • 39 Vieluf S, Godde B, Reuter EM, Voelcker-Rehage C. Effects of age and fine motor expertise on the bilateral deficit in force initiation. Exp Brain Res 2013; 231: 107-116
  • 40 Villanueva MG, Lane CJ, Schroeder ET. Short rest interval lengths between sets optimally enhance body composition and performance with 8 weeks of strength resistance training in older men. Eur J Appl Physiol 2015; 115: 295-308
  • 41 Walsh M, Woodhouse LJ, Thomas SG, Finch E. Physical impairments and functional limitations: A comparison of individuals 1 year after total knee arthroplasty with control subjects. Phys Ther 1998; 78: 248-258
  • 42 Yamauchi J, Mishima C, Nakayama S, Ishii N. Aging-related differences in maximum force, unloaded velocity and power of human leg multi-joint movement. Gerontology 2010; 56: 167-174