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




Manderoos S, Wasenius N, Laine MK, Kujala U, Mälkiä E, Kaprio J, Sarna S, Backmand HM, Kettunen JA, Heinonen OJ, Jula AM, Aunola S, Eriksson JG

2017

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

27

11

1283

1291

9

0905-7188

1600-0838

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12775



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 (= 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.



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