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Relationships Among Age-Associated Strength Changes and Physical Activity Level, Limb Dominance, and Muscle Group in Women

^a Schools of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia.
^b Schools of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia.

Sandra K. Hunter, Neural Control of Movement Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Campus Box 354, Boulder, Colorado 80303-0354 E-mail: shunter{at}colorado.edu.

Decision Editor: Jay Roberts, PhD

This study investigated the magnitude and rate of age-associated strength reductions in Australian independent urban-dwelling women and the relationship to muscle groups, limb dominance, and physical activity level. Independent urban-dwelling women aged 20 to 89 years performed maximal voluntary contractions with the dominant and nondominant knee extensors, plantar flexors, and handgrip. Anthropometric measurements were made and questionnaire responses used to obtain current physical activity levels. Trend analysis within analysis of variance and regression analysis on strength was performed. Limb muscle strength was found to be associated with increased age, muscle group, limb dominance, and activity. Self-reported physical activity levels declined with age but women who were more physically active for their age group were stronger in all muscle groups and had more lean body mass and lean thigh and leg cross-sectional area than relatively inactive women. Slopes of the linear reductions of maximal voluntary strength of the knee extensors, plantar flexors, and handgrip with age were significantly different ( p < .05) at 9.3%, 7.4%, and 6.2% per decade, respectively. The limb muscle strength of healthy Australian independent and urban-dwelling women aged 20 to 89 years was found to be associated with age and three aspects of disuse: muscle group, relative levels of physical activity, and limb dominance.

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