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Determinants of Lower‐Body Muscle Power in Early Postmenopausal Women
Author(s) -
Sipilä Sarianna,
Koskinen Satu O. A.,
Taaffe Dennis R.,
Takala Timo E. S.,
Cheng Sulin,
Rantanen Taina,
Toivanen Jarmo,
Suominen Harri
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52261.x
Subject(s) - medicine , isometric exercise , lean body mass , bioelectrical impedance analysis , thigh , lean tissue , sarcopenia , vastus lateralis muscle , anatomy , physical therapy , cardiology , endocrinology , body mass index , skeletal muscle , body weight
Objectives: To investigate the association between muscle size, density, and fiber composition; body composition; maximal isometric knee extension strength (KES); and lower‐body muscle power in healthy postmenopausal women. Design: Cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data from a 1‐year randomized controlled experiment. Setting: University‐based research laboratory. Participants: Seventy‐eight healthy postmenopausal women aged 50 to 57. Measurements: Maximal lower‐body muscle power was assessed using vertical jump height (VJH). Maximal isometric KES was measured on a dynamometer chair. Computed tomography scans were used to determine lean‐tissue cross‐sectional area and density of the thigh and lower leg muscles. Relative area occupied by type I, IIa, IIax, and IIx muscle fibers was assessed from the vastus lateralis muscle. Lean body mass and total body fat mass were assessed using bioelectrical impedance. Results: High VJH was associated with low body fat mass, high KES, and high density of thigh and lower leg muscles. Multivariate linear regression modeling revealed that high thigh muscle density (β=0.242; P =.019), relative area occupied by the fastest muscle fiber types (IIax+IIx; β=0.246; P =.007), KES (β=0.247; P =.007), and low body fat mass (β=−0.455; P <.001) were independently associated with high VJH, accounting for 45% of the variability in VJH. Conclusion: This study showed that thigh muscle composition, muscle strength, and body fat mass are important determinants of lower‐body muscle power production during weight‐bearing activity in healthy postmenopausal women.