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Triceps Surae Muscle Power, Volume, and Quality in Older Versus Younger Healthy Men

¹ Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement (IRM), Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, United Kingdom.
² School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

Address correspondence to Dr. Jeanette Thom, Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, MMU Cheshire, Alsager Campus, Hassall Road, Alsager, Cheshire, ST7 2HL, U.K. E-mail: j.thom{at}mmu.ac.uk

This study investigated whether loss of power with aging is fully accounted for by a decrease in muscle volume. Triceps surae power and volume (VOL) were measured in 18 older (OM: 69–82 years) and 12 younger men (YM: 19–35 years). Isokinetic peak torque was measured to determine torque–velocity and power–velocity relationships. Both peak power observed (PP_obs) and peak power estimated from Hill's equation (PP_est) were markedly reduced in the OM (PP_obs was 45% and PP_est was 43% of those of the YM). VOL was 81% of that of the YM (p <.001). Specific power (PP_est/VOL) of the OM was 55.2% of that of the YM (p <.001). Torque at PP_est accounted for a greater proportion of the decline in PP_est in the OM than did optimum velocity (50% vs 13%, respectively). Hence, the present results showed that only approximately half of the loss in triceps surae peak power in old age is due to decreases in muscle VOL.