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Muscle function and postural balance in lifelong trained male footballers compared with sedentary elderly men and youngsters
Author(s) -
Sundstrup E.,
Jakobsen M. D.,
Andersen J. L.,
Randers M. B.,
Petersen J.,
Suetta C.,
Aagaard P.,
Krustrup P.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01092.x
Subject(s) - balance (ability) , medicine , physical therapy , football , lean body mass , balance test , dynamic balance , physical medicine and rehabilitation , body weight , physics , quantum mechanics , political science , law
The present study investigated whether elderly subjects exposed to lifelong football training have better rapid muscle force characteristics, body composition and postural stability in comparison with untrained elderly. Ten elderly men exposed to lifelong football training (FTE; 69.6 ± 1.4 years) and eight age‐matched untrained elderly men (UE; 70.5 ± 1.0 years) were studied and 49 untrained young men (UY; 32.4 ± 0.9 years) served as a reference group. FTE showed an elevated rate of force development (RFD) and impulse at 0–30, 100 and 200 ms (relative RFD at 1/6 MVC: 567 ± 39 vs 353 ± 42% MVC/s), higher total lean body mass (56.9 ± 0.8 vs 52.7 ± 2.2 kg) and better postural stability (Flamingo test: 15 ± 1 vs 33 ± 2 falls) compared with UE ( P <0.05), with no difference between FTE and UY. The proportion of type IIA fibers was higher and the area percentage of type IIX fibers was lower in FTE than in UE ( P <0.05). Rapid muscle force characteristics and postural stability were consistently higher in elderly subjects exposed to lifelong football training, providing an enhanced ability to counteract unexpected perturbations in postural balance. The superior RFD and balance in elderly footballers were of such a magnitude that no deficit could be observed when compared with young untrained individuals.