Mobility and muscle strength in male former elite endurance and power athletes aged 66−91 years

The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to compare mobility and muscle strength in male former elite endurance and power athletes aged 66−91 years (n = 150; 50 men in both former elite athlete groups and in their control group). Agility, dynamic balance, walking speed, chair stand, self‐rated bala...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports 2017-11, Vol.27 (11), p.1283-1291
Main Authors: Manderoos, S., Wasenius, N., Laine, M. K., Kujala, U. M., Mälkiä, E., Kaprio, J., Sarna, S., Bäckmand, H. M., Kettunen, J. A., Heinonen, O. J., Jula, A. M., Aunola, S., Eriksson, J. G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
agility performance
Aging
Athletes
Body Mass Index
Case-Control Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise
Humans
Male
Mobility Limitation
Muscle Strength
old elite athletes
physical functioning
Postural Balance
vertical jump
Walking Speed
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Summary:The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to compare mobility and muscle strength in male former elite endurance and power athletes aged 66−91 years (n = 150; 50 men in both former elite athlete groups and in their control group). Agility, dynamic balance, walking speed, chair stand, self‐rated balance confidence (ABC‐scale), jumping height, and handgrip strength were assessed. Former elite power athletes had better agility performance time than the controls (age‐ and body mass index, BMI‐adjusted mean difference −3.6 s; 95% CI −6.3, −0.8). Adjustment for current leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and prevalence of diseases made this difference non‐significant (P = 0.214). The subjects in the power sports group jumped higher than the men in the control group (age‐ and BMI‐adjusted mean differences for vertical squat jump, VSJ 4.4 cm; 95% CI 2.0, 6.8; for countermovement jump, CMJ 4.0 cm; 95% CI 1.7, 6.4). Taking current LTPA and chronic diseases for adjusting process did not improve explorative power of the model. No significant differences between the groups were found in the performances evaluating dynamic balance, walking speed, chair stand, ABC‐scale, or handgrip strength. In conclusion, power athletes among the aged former elite sportsmen had greater explosive force production in their lower extremities than the men in the control group.
ISSN:0905-7188
1600-0838
DOI:10.1111/sms.12775