Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Muscle function in elite master weightlifters.

Stephen J Pearson1, Archie Young, Andrea Macaluso

  • 1Department of Physiology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom. s.pearson@rfc.ucl.ac.uk

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|July 20, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Characterization of kinematic synergies during upright reaching tasks.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
Same author

QuEChERS-Based LC-MS/MS and HRMS Methods for PFAS Determination in Food: A Systematic Review.

Foods (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Age-related alterations in trunk extensor force control during isometric and isokinetic contractions.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Task-dependent intermuscular coherence between postural muscles during voluntary upright reaching.

Experimental physiology·2026
Same author

Physiological Responses to Four Different Baseline Accelerations on a Human Centrifuge.

Aerospace medicine and human performance·2026
Same author

Impairment in anticipatory cognitive brain processing in frail older adults.

GeroScience·2025
Same journal

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Age-Related Decline in Kidney Function among Individuals with Preserved Kidney Health: The Aging Kidney Study.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

Objectively Measured Cardiorespiratory Fitness as a Potential Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Older Adults: Evidence from the Generation 100 Study.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

The Effects of Eight-Week Traditional Aerobic Exercise and Exergaming on Dual-Task Performance and Prefrontal Cortex Activation in Older Adults.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

The Impact of Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Cytotoxic T Cell Metabolism and Function.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

Female Athletes Through the Lifespan: Clinical Considerations and a Call for Comprehensive Sports Medicine Healthcare.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

Artificial Intelligence in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
See all related articles

Elite master weightlifters maintain similar age-related declines in muscle power and strength as healthy controls. However, weightlifters retain a significant advantage, appearing 20 years younger in power output.

Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Gerontology
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Aging leads to declines in muscle strength and power, impacting functional capacity.
  • Elite athletes may exhibit different aging trajectories compared to sedentary individuals.
  • Understanding age-related muscle changes is crucial for maintaining health and performance in later life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the rate of decline in lower-limb explosive power and isometric strength between elite master weightlifters and age-matched healthy controls.
  • To investigate if specific training in weightlifting mitigates age-related muscle power and strength loss.

Main Methods:

  • Compared 54 elite master weightlifters (40-87 years) with age-matched untrained controls.
  • Assessed isometric knee extensor strength and lower-limb explosive power using specialized equipment.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Measured antagonist co-contraction via EMG and muscle volume via anthropometry.

    • Main Results:

    • Weightlifters demonstrated 32% greater peak power and isometric force than controls.
    • Peak power declined at similar rates (1.2-1.3%/year) in both groups.
    • Isometric strength declined at lower rates (0.5-0.6%/year) in both groups, with weightlifters showing higher absolute values.

    Conclusions:

    • Muscle power and isometric strength decline at comparable rates with age in elite weightlifters and controls.
    • Despite similar decline rates, weightlifters maintain a significant absolute advantage in strength and power.
    • This suggests an apparent 20-year age advantage in functional capacity for elite master weightlifters compared to untrained individuals.