Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and
Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University,
Ghent, Belgium
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Kim Delbaere, University Hospital
Ghent, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, De Pintelaan
185 (6K3), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Tel.: +32 (0)9 240 22 71; Fax: +32 (0)9 240
38 11; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Objective: To determine the influence of ageing on lean muscle area
and isometric and concentric and eccentric muscle strength in the upper and
lower extremity in a cross-sectional study design. Subjects and methods: Lean muscle area and maximal muscle strength
(isometric and isokinetic, 60° and
120°/s) of both upper and lower extremity were
assessed of 45 men and 56 women (20 to 89 years). Results: One-way variance analysis and regression analyses revealed
a parallel decline with age in both sexes for maximal muscle strength. The
decline in maximal muscle strength from age 60 was 34 to 45% in men and 11 to
32% in women in the arms and 40 to 47% in men and 37 to 45% in women in the
legs. Isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions showed a similar decline
in ageing in both sexes. There was a better maintenance with age of the
strength in the arms than in the legs (p < 0.01) and at
120°/s than at 60°/s
(p < 0.05). Conclusions: The present findings suggest a parallel decline in lean
muscle area and strength and similar losses in isometric, concentric and
eccentric strength with increasing age.
