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| Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2002): |
Improved muscle strength and power in elderly exercising regularly.
Full Abstract
Since the number of elderly people with a sedentary lifestyle is considerable and still growing, regular exercise could be an extra stimulant to compensate for the decrease in functional capacities. The potential positive effects of physical and sporting activities (PSA) on muscular function in relation to the period of practice were studied. Muscular strength and power were evaluated by dynamometric knee and ankle tests on 40 healthy subjects aged over 60 years old, split into four groups according to the period of practice. Higher muscular performance was obtained in subjects who had always practised PSA, whereas subjects who had always been inactive displayed the worst muscular performances. Subjects who had begun PSA practice lately had good muscular strength and power, close to those of the AA group, whereas the subjects who had stopped the practice at an early age did not perform as well. Life-long PSA attenuates the age-related loss of muscle function, and initiation at old age improves it. This, and the absence of any beneficial effects of PSA stopped when young, indicates that the actual activity level is an important determinant of skeletal muscle function at old age. Practicing PSA increases muscular strength and power and thus improves daily living activities in elderly people.
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Author information
Author/s: Gauchard, G C (GC); Tessier, A (A); Jeandel, C (C); Perrin, Ph P (PP);
Affiliation: Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives, Université Henri Poincaré-Nancy 1, Villers-lès-Nancy, France.
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Journal Article
Journal: International journal of sports medicine (Int J Sports Med), published in Germany. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2003-Jan; vol 24 (issue 1) : pp 71-4
Dates: Created 2003/02/12; Completed 2003/05/28; Revised 2006/11/15;
PMID: 12582955, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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