Winegard K J, Hicks A L, Sale D G, Vandervoort A A
Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1996 May;51(3):B202-7. doi: 10.1093/gerona/51a.3.b202.
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in strength over time in a cohort of healthy elderly people who underwent assessments of ankle muscle function 12 years earlier. The isometric strength and contractile characteristics of the dorsiflexors and plantarflexors were studied in 11 male and 11 female subjects, ranging from 73-97 yrs (mean age 84 +/- 7.1 yrs). The same footplate apparatus was used as during the original testing. From 1982 to 1994, plantarflexor strength decreased 2.1% per year in females, and 2.5% per year in males (p < .01). The loss was relatively less in the dorsiflexor muscles; strength decreased 0.3% per year in females, and 0.8% per year in male (p > .05). There were no significant changes in evoked twitch torque in either muscle group, which may be due to the fact that passive tension of the connective tissue increased (p < .01) over the 12-year period. We conclude from this longitudinal assessment of ankle muscle function that the rate of loss of voluntary strength can vary considerably between antagonistic muscle groups. Factors influencing this variable loss warrant further investigation.
本研究的目的是调查一群12年前接受过踝关节肌肉功能评估的健康老年人随时间推移的力量变化情况。对11名男性和11名女性受试者（年龄在73 - 97岁之间，平均年龄84 ± 7.1岁）的背屈肌和跖屈肌的等长力量及收缩特性进行了研究。使用的脚踏板装置与最初测试时相同。从1982年到1994年，女性的跖屈肌力量每年下降2.1%，男性每年下降2.5%（p < 0.01）。背屈肌力量的损失相对较小；女性每年下降0.3%，男性每年下降0.8%（p > 0.05）。两组肌肉的诱发抽搐扭矩均无显著变化，这可能是由于在12年期间结缔组织的被动张力增加（p < 0.01）。通过对踝关节肌肉功能的纵向评估，我们得出结论，拮抗肌群之间的随意力量丧失速率可能有很大差异。影响这种可变损失的因素值得进一步研究。
