Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(10): 754-759
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1231046
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Muscle Strength and Metabolism in Master Athletes

J. Louis 1 , C. Hausswirth 2 , F. Bieuzen 2 , J. Brisswalter 1
  • 1University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Laboratory of Human Motricity, Education and Health, Nice, France
  • 2INSEP, Laboratory of Biomechanics and Physiology, Paris, France
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision May 27, 2009

Publication Date:
14 August 2009 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Knee extensor muscle strength and metabolism were examined in endurance trained young versus master athletes (10 elderly: 62.5±4.1 yr and 10 young: 26.2±2.4 yr). Before and immediately after a resistance strength training (RST), subjects performed a maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) and a 10-min cycling test at a same relative intensity. During MVC, evoked contractions of the knee extensors muscles were performed to assess neuromuscular properties. Metabolism was assessed using oxygen uptake kinetics model. Before the RST session master athletes showed lower knee extensors MVC values than young subjects (257 vs. 354 N p<0.05) without any difference in oxygen kinetics (respectively for elederly and young: oxygen slow component (VO2 sc): 231 vs. 214 ml · min−1 and time constant (τ1): 27.8 vs. 25.1 s, p>0.05). After the RST session, a similar effect of fatigue was observed on muscular properties and oxygen kinetics whatever the group (respectively for elderly and young: MVC: −13.4 vs. −15.9%; VO2 sc: +11.8 vs.+25.2% and τ1: −15.4 vs. −13.9%). Our results suggest that the ability of master athletes to perform exercise at a given intensity is maintained despite a significant loss in strength with ageing.

Key words

ageing - endurance training - strength - oxygen uptake kinetics

References

  • 1 Allman BL, Rice CL. Incomplete recovery of voluntary isometric force after fatigue is not affected by old age.  Muscle Nerve. 2001;  24 1156-1167
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Baudry S, Malgorzata K, Pasquet B, Duchateau J. Age-related fatigability of the dorsiflexor muscles during concentric and eccentric contractions.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007;  100 515-525
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Bell C, Paterson DH, Kowalchuk JM, Cunningham DA. Oxygen uptake kinetics of older humans are slowed with age but are unaffected by hyperoxia.  Exp Physiol. 1999;  84 747-759
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Berger NJ, Rittweger J, Kwiet A, Michaelis I, Williams AG, Tolfrey K, Jones AM. Pulmonary O2 uptake on-kinetics in endurance- and sprint-trained master athletes.  Int J Sports Med. 2006;  27 1005-1012
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Bilodeau M, Henderson TK, Nolta BE, Pursley PJ, Sandfort G. Effect of aging on fatigue characteristics of elbow flexor muscles during sustained submaximal contraction.  J Appl Physiol. 2001;  91 2654-2664
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Bishop D, Jenkins DG, Mackinnon LT, McEniery M, Carey MF. The effects of strength training on endurance performance and muscle characteristics.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 886-891
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Brisswalter J, Bieuzen F, Giacomoni M, Tricot V, Falgairette G. Morning-to-evening differences in oxygen uptake kinetics in short-duration cycling exercise.  Chronobiol Int. 2007;  24 495-506
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Carter H, Jones AM, Barstow TJ, Burnley M, Williams C, Doust JH. Effect of endurance training on oxygen uptake kinetics during treadmill running.  J Appl Physiol. 2000;  89 1744-1752
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Chick TW, Cagle TG, Vegas FA, Poliner JK, Murate GH. The effect of aging on submaximal performance and recovery.  J Gerontol. 1991;  46 B34-B38
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Coggan AR, Spina RJ, Rogers MA, King DS, Brown M, Nemeth PM, Holloszy JO. Histochemical and enzymatic characteristics of skeletal muscle in master athletes.  J Appl Physiol. 1990;  68 1896-1901
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Deley G, Kervio G, Van Hoecke J, Verges B, Grassi B, Casillas JM. Effects of a one-year exercise training program in adults over 70 years old: a study with a control group.  Aging Clin Exp Res. 2007;  19 310-315
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Faulkner JA, Davis CS, Mendias CL, Brooks SV. The aging of elite male athletes: age-related changes in performance and skeletal muscle structure and function.  Clin J Sport Med. 2008;  18 501-507
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Fukuoka Y, Grassi B, Conti M, Guiducci D, Sutti M, Marconi C, Cerretelli P. Early effects of exercise training on on- and off-kinetics in 50-year-old subjects.  Pflugers Arch. 2002;  443 690-697
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Gandevia SC. Spinal and supraspinal factors in human muscle fatigue.  Physiol Rev. 2001;  81 1725-1789
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Hakkinen K, Keskinen KL. Muscle cross-sectional area and voluntary force production characteristics in elite strength- and endurance-trained athletes and sprinters.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1989;  59 215-220
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Hausswirth C, Lehénaff D, Dréano P, Savonen K. Effects of cycling alone or in a sheltered position on subsequent running performance during a triathlon.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 599-604
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Hunter SK, Critchlow A, Enoka RM. Muscle endurance is greater for old men compared with strength-matched young men.  J Appl Physiol. 2005;  99 890-897
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Jones AM, Poole DC. Oxygen uptake dynamics: from muscle to mouth – an introduction to the symposium.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005;  37 1542-1550
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Kent-Braun JA, Ng AV, Doyle JW, Towse TF. Human skeletal muscle responses vary with age and gender during fatigue due to incremental isometric exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 2002;  93 1813-1823
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Lanza IR, Russ DW, Kent-Braun JA. Age-related enhancement of fatigue resistance is evident in men during both isometric and dynamic tasks.  J Appl Physiol. 2004;  97 967-975
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Lattier G, Millet GY, Martin A, Martin V. Fatigue and recovery after high-intensity exercise. Part II: Recovery interventions.  Int J Sports Med. 2004;  25 509-515
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Lepers R, Pousson M, Maffiuletti N, Martin A, Van Hoecke J. The effects of a prolonged running exercise upon strength characteristics.  Int J Sports Med. 2000;  21 275-280
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Lepers R, Hausswirth C, Maffiuletti N, Brisswalter J, van Hoecke J. Evidence of neuromuscular fatigue after prolonged cycling exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 1880-1886
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Lepers R, Millet GY, Maffiuletti N, Hausswirth C, Brisswalter J. Effect of pedalling rates on physiological response during endurance cycling.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;  85 392-395
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Lexell J. Human aging, muscle mass, and fiber type composition.  J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1995;  50 11-16
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Maharam LG, Bauman PA, Kalman D, Skolnik H, Perle SM. Masters athletes: factors affecting performance.  Sports Med. 1999;  28 273-285
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Macaluso A, De Vito G. Muscle strength power and adaptations to resistance training in older people.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004;  91 450-472
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 McNeil CJ, Rice CL. Fatigability is increased with age during velocity-dependent contractions of the dorsiflexors.  J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2007;  62 624-629
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Narici MV, Maganaris CN, Reeves ND, Capodaglio P. Effect of aging on human muscle architecture.  J Appl Physiol. 2003;  95 2229-2234
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Osteras H, Hoff J, Helgerund J. Effects of high-intensity endurance training on maximal oxygen consumption in healthy elderly people.  J Appl Gerontol. 2005;  24 377-387
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Petrella JK, Kim JS, Tuggle SC, Hall SR, Bamman MM. Age differences in knee extension power, contractile velocity, and fatigability.  J Appl Physiol. 2005;  98 211-220
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Place N, Maffiuletti N, Ballay Y, Lepers R. Twitch potentiation is greater after a fatiguing submaximal isometric contraction performed at short vs. long quadriceps muscle length.  J Appl Physiol. 2005;  98 429-436
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Porter MM, Vandervoort AA, Lexell J. Aging of human muscle: structure, function and adaptability.  Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1995;  5 129-142
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Prud’Homme D, Bouchard C, Leblance C, Landry F, Lortie G, Boulay MR. Reliability of assessments of ventilatory thresholds.  J Sports Sci. 1984;  1 13-24
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Sabapathy S, Schneider DA, Comadira G, Johnston I, Morris NR. Oxygen uptake kinetics during severe exercise: a comparison between young and older men.  Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2004;  139 203-213
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Sultana F, Brisswalter J, Lepers R, Hausswirth C, Bernard T. Effects of age and gender on Olympic Triathlon performances.  Sci Sports. 2008;  23 130-135
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Tanaka H, Seals DR. Endurance exercise performance in masters athletes: age-associated changes and underlying physiological mechanisms.  J Physiol. 2008;  586 56-63
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Tarpenning KM, Hawkins SA, Marcell TJ, Wiswell RA. Endurance exercise and leg strength in older women.  J Aging Phys Act. 2006;  14 3-11
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Trappe S. Marathon runners: how do they age?.  Sports Med. 2007;  37 302-305
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Wasserman K, Whipp BJ, Koyl SN, Beaver WL. Anaerobic threshold and respiratory gas exchange during exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1973;  35 236-243
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Whipp BJ. The slow component of O2 uptake kinetics during heavy exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 1319-1326
    PubMedGoogle Scholar

Correspondence

Prof. J. Brisswalter

University of Nice Sophia Antipolis

Laboratory of Human Motricity Education and Health

BP 3259 205 Nice

France

Phone: +33/6/31/79 27 17

Fax: +33/4/92/29 65 49

Email: brisswalter@gmail.com

      >