Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]
Author:
Keyword(s):
Year:  Vol:  Page: 


This Article
Full Text
Full Text (PDF)
Alert me when this article is cited
Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Similar articles in this journal
Similar articles in PubMed
Alert me to new issues of the journal
Download to citation manager
Cited by other online articles
PubMed
PubMed Citation
Articles by Martin, J. C.
Articles by Spirduso, W. W.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 55:M311-M316 (2000)
© 2000 The Gerontological Society of America

Maximal Power Across the Lifespan

J. C. Martina, R. P. Farrara, B. M. Wagnera and W. W. Spirdusoa

a Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin

Correspondence: J. C. Martin, Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 1300 Wheat St., Columbia, SC 29208 E-mail: [email protected].

John E. Morley, MB, BCh

Background. Previous investigators have reported that maximal power increases during growth and decreases with aging. These age-related differences have been reported to persist even when power is scaled to body mass or muscle size. We hypothesized that age-related differences in maximal power were primarily related to differences in muscle size and fiber-type distribution rather than to age per se.

Methods. Maximum cycling power (Pmax) and optimal pedaling rate (Vopt, a surrogate measure for muscle fiber type) were determined for 195 boys and men, 8–70 years of age, by using inertial load cycle ergometry. Anthropometric dimensions were used to estimate lean thigh volume (LTVest) of all subjects, and magnetic resonance imagery was used to determine thigh and hip muscle volume (MRIvol) for 24 subjects.

Results. Pmax was highly related to the product of LTVest and Vopt (LTVest x Vopt; ). Multiple regression revealed that Pmax was significantly related to both LTVest x Vopt and age (). Power scaled by LTVest x Vopt was stable during growth and exhibited a small but significant decrease with aging. MRIvol was highly correlated with LTVest, and the ratio of LTVest to MRIvol was independent of age.

Conclusions. These results suggest that muscle volume and optimal pedaling rate are the main determinants of maximal power across the lifespan and that the contractile properties of muscle are developed early in childhood and remain nearly intact late into the lifespan.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
E. J. Metter, L. A. Talbot, M. Schrager, and R. A. Conwit
Arm-cranking muscle power and arm isometric muscle strength are independent predictors of all-cause mortality in men
J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2004; 96(2): 814 - 821.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
J. E. Morley
Editorial: Citations, Impact Factor, and the Journal
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., December 1, 2002; 57(12): M765 - 769.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
J. E. Morley
Editorial: A Fall Is a Major Event in the Life of an Older Person
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2002; 57(8): M492 - 495.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
J. E. Morley and J. H. Flaherty
Editorial It's Never Too Late: Health Promotion and Illness Prevention in Older Persons
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., June 1, 2002; 57(6): M338 - 342.
[Full Text]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
W. M. Bortz II
A Conceptual Framework of Frailty: A Review
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., May 1, 2002; 57(5): M283 - 288.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
B. L. Tracy and R. M. Enoka
Older adults are less steady during submaximal isometric contractions with the knee extensor muscles
J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2002; 92(3): 1004 - 1012.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
A. M. Matsumoto
Andropause: Clinical Implications of the Decline in Serum Testosterone Levels With Aging in Men
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., February 1, 2002; 57(2): M76 - 99.
[Full Text]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
W. J. Evans
Editorial: Exercise Strategies Should Be Designed to Increase Muscle Power
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., June 1, 2000; 55(6): 309M - 310.
[Full Text]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
J. E. Morley
Editorial: The Aging Athlete
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., November 1, 2000; 55(11): 627M - 629.
[Full Text]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2000 by The Gerontological Society of America.