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 Google Scholar Articles by Simoneau, E. Articles by Van Hoecke, J. Articles citing this Article PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Simoneau, E. Articles by Van Hoecke, J.

Muscular Performances at the Ankle Joint in Young and Elderly Men

Equipe INSERM-ERM 207 Motricité-Plasticité, Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de Bourgogne, France.

Address correspondence to Emilie Simoneau, INSERM-ERM 207 Motricité-Plasticité, UFR STAPS, Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de Bourgogne, BP 27 877, 21 078 Dijon cedex, France. E-mail: emilie.simoneau{at}u-bourgogne.fr

The effect of aging on mechanical and electromyographic characteristics of ankle joint muscles was investigated in 11 young (mean age 24 years) and 12 elderly (mean age 77 years) males. Maximal and submaximal isometric voluntary torques were measured during ankle plantarflexion and dorsiflexion. Electromyographic activities of triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscles were recorded. The elderly group developed equal maximal dorsiflexion torques (42 vs 45 N.m, p >.05), but in plantarflexion, the elderly group was weaker (80 vs 132 N.m, p <.001) and presented a decreased twitch amplitude (11 vs 16 N.m) and lower coactivation (8% vs 15%) than that of the young adults. We established a linear relationship between the percentage of coactivation and developed resultant torque. Our results showed that dorsiflexor muscles were not affected by aging, contrary to plantarflexors, in which the decline in torque was partly explained by changes intervening at the peripheral level.