Maximal strength and power, endurance performance, and serum hormones in middle-aged and elderly men.

PURPOSE

To examine maximal strength, power and muscle cross-sectional area, maximal and submaximal cycling endurance characteristics, and serum hormone concentrations of testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), and cortisol (C) in middle-aged and elderly men.

METHODS

Maximal knee extension force (isometric; MIF(KE)), power-load curves during concentric actions with loads ranging from 15% to 70% of 1 RM half-squat (1RM(HS)), muscle cross-sectional area of quadriceps femoris (CSA(QF)), workload, heart rate and lactate accumulation during incremental cycling, and serum hormone concentrations were measured in 26 middle-aged (M42 yr) and 21 elderly men (M65 yr).

RESULTS

The 1RM(HS) (14%), MIF(KE) (24%) and CSA(QF) (13%) were lower in M65 than in M42 (P < 0.05-0.01). Power during submaximal actions was lower (P < 0.05-0.001) in M65 than in M42, but the differences disappeared when expressed relative to CSA(QF). Serum FT was in M42 higher (P < 0.05) than in M65. Maximal workload, maximal heart rate and peak blood lactate during cycling in M65 were 31%, 11%, and 20% lower than in M42 (P < 0.01). During submaximal cycling blood lactate rose more rapidly with increasing workload in M65 than in M42 (P < 0.05-0.01), but the differences disappeared when expressed relative to CSA(QF). Significant correlations existed between individual values of serum FT:C ratio, C and T, and those of muscle strength and maximal workload.

CONCLUSION

Declines in maximal strength, muscle mass, and endurance performance seem to take place with increasing age, although muscle power and demand for aerobic energy per unit of muscle tissue during submaximal loads remain similar. The balance between anabolic and catabolic hormones in aging people over the years may be associated with age-related decreased strength and declines in maximal cycling workload.