Force control is impaired in the ankle plantarflexors of elderly adults

This study determined the amplitude of force fluctuations for the ankle dorsiflexor (DF) and plantarflexor (PF) muscles of young and elderly adults. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force and isometric DF and PF steadiness (2.5-80% MVC) was assessed in 11 young (23+/-3 years, 5 women, 6 men) and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of applied physiology 2007-11, Vol.101 (5), p.629-636
Main Author: Tracy, Brian L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged - physiology
Aged, 80 and over
Ankle
Ankle - physiology
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Electromyography
Female
Humans
Isometric Contraction - physiology
Male
Muscle Contraction - physiology
Muscle Strength - physiology
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Sex Characteristics
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Summary:This study determined the amplitude of force fluctuations for the ankle dorsiflexor (DF) and plantarflexor (PF) muscles of young and elderly adults. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force and isometric DF and PF steadiness (2.5-80% MVC) was assessed in 11 young (23+/-3 years, 5 women, 6 men) and 10 elderly (73+/-6 years, 5 women, 5 men) adults. The coefficient of variation (CV) and power spectrum of the force was measured from the steadiness trials. MVC force was lower for elderly adults for PF (38% lower, P=0.002) but not DF (20% lower, P=0.14). For PF, the CV of force was greater for elderly than young adults at 2.5% (2.64 vs. 1.71%) and 5% MVC (1.78 vs. 1.24%), similar at 10, 50, and 80% MVC, and greater for young than elderly at the 30% MVC target force. For DF, the CV of force was similar for young and elderly at all target forces (P>0.05). The CV of force was 49% lower for the PF compared with DF muscles across all target forces (P
ISSN:1439-6319
1439-6327
DOI:10.1007/s00421-007-0538-0