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01-11-2007 | Original Article

Force control is impaired in the ankle plantarflexors of elderly adults

Author: Brian L. Tracy

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 5/2007

Abstract

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 < 0.0001). This difference was significantly greater at the 2.5 (58%), 5 (58%), and 10% MVC (44%) target forces compared with higher target forces. The power spectra of the force fluctuations for both muscles were consistently dominated by frequencies below 2 Hz. For elderly adults, the neuromuscular factors that underlie both muscle strength and force fluctuations during low-force contractions are impaired in the ankle plantarflexors but not the dorsiflexors.

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Title: Force control is impaired in the ankle plantarflexors of elderly adults
Author: Brian L. Tracy
Publication date: 01-11-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 5/2007
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0538-0

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Force control is impaired in the ankle plantarflexors of elderly adults

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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