Rowing prevents muscle wasting in older men

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Gerontology
• Muscle Biology

Background:

• Aging is associated with sarcopenia, characterized by muscle mass and strength decline.
• Maintaining muscle mass and function is crucial for mobility and independence in older adults.
• Resistance and endurance training are known to mitigate age-related muscle loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of rowing on the morphology and function of leg extensor muscles in elderly individuals.
• To compare muscle characteristics between elderly rowers and age-matched sedentary men.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study comparing 15 elderly oarsmen with 15 age- and size-matched sedentary elderly men.
• Measurement of leg extensor muscle area using anthropometry.
• Assessment of bilateral leg extension power and 2,000-meter rowing ergometer performance.

Main Results:

• Oarsmen exhibited significantly larger leg extensor muscle area (77.8 vs 68.4 cm²) and greater leg extension power (1,624 vs 1,296 W) compared to sedentary individuals.
• Leg extension power per muscle area was similar between groups, indicating preserved muscle quality in oarsmen.
• A positive correlation was found between leg extension power and muscle area (r=0.74), and between rowing performance and muscle area (r=0.63).

Conclusions:

• Rowing exercise appears to counteract age-related muscle wasting and weakness in the leg extensors.
• Regular rowing may be an effective strategy for preserving muscle mass and function in older adults.
• Muscle size is a key determinant of leg extension power and rowing performance in this population.