Stretch‐shortening cycle muscle power in women and men aged 18–81 years: Influence of age and gender. Issue 4 (28th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Edwén, C. E.; Thorlund, J. B.; Magnusson, S. P.; Slinde, F.; Svantesson, U.; Hulthén, L.; Aagaard, P.
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. Volume 24:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 717
• Page End: 726
• Publication Date: 2013-03-28
• Subjects: Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1111/sms.12066
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-7188

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>This study explored the age‐related deterioration in stretch‐shortening cycle (SSC) muscle power and concurrent force–velocity properties in women and men across the adult life span.</p> <p>A total of 315 participants (women: <italic>n</italic> = 188; men: <italic>n</italic> = 127) aged 18–81 years performed maximal countermovement jumps on an instrumented force plate.</p> <p>Maximal SSC leg extension power expressed per kg body mass (<italic>Ppeak</italic>) was greater in men than in women across the adult age span (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001); however, this gender difference was progressively reduced with increasing age, because men showed an ∼50% faster rate of decline in SSC power than women (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Velocity at peak power (<italic>VPpeak</italic>) was greater in men than in women (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) but declined at a greater rate in men than in women (<italic>P</italic> = 0.002). Vertical ground reaction force at peak power (<italic>FPpeak</italic>) was higher in men than in women in younger adults only (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and the age‐related decline was steeper in men than in women (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001).</p> <p>Men demonstrated a steeper rate of decline in <italic>Ppeak</italic> than women with progressive aging. This novel finding emerged as a result of greater age‐related losses in men for both force and velocity. Consequently, maximal SSC power production was observed to converge between genders when approaching old age.</p> </abstract>