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Relationship between physiological loss, performance decrement, and age in master athletes
R A Wiswell1, S A Hawkins, S V Jaque
1Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. wiswell@hsc.usc.edu
Summary
Master athletes show significant age-related declines in physiological measures, with some differences between genders, but overall loss rates do not vary by sex. Muscle strength and performance decline non-linearly with age.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Gerontology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Master athletes are often used to model aging-related physiological decline.
- Previous studies have been limited by small sample sizes and narrow demographic ranges.
- This study investigates physiological changes in a diverse group of master athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine age-related physiological changes in master athletes.
- To identify gender-specific differences in these changes.
- To compare loss rates between genders.
Main Methods:
- Studied 146 male and 82 female master athletes aged over 40.
- Assessed maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), body composition, muscle strength, bone density, and blood chemistries.
- Collected medical histories and training data via questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Significant gender differences observed in body composition, blood chemistries, VO2max, strength, bone density, and performance.
- Most metabolic parameters declined significantly with age in men, and some in women.
- Strength, performance, and bone density (in women) declined significantly with age, but loss rates did not differ by gender.
Conclusions:
- Age-related declines in VO2max may be comparable to those in sedentary older adults.
- Loss of muscle strength and performance with aging is not a linear process.
- Further research is needed, ideally including a sedentary comparison group.