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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Construction of Constant-Load (Isotonic) and Constant-Velocity (Isokinetic) Torque-Velocity-Power Profiles In vivo for the Rat Plantar Flexors
Published on: October 3, 2025
Aging-related differences in maximum force, unloaded velocity and power of human leg multi-joint movement
Junichiro Yamauchi1, Chizuko Mishima, Satoshi Nakayama
1Institute of Sport Science, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Germany. yamauchi@tmu.ac.jp
Background:
Because many of our movements of daily living are multi-joint movements and lower limb performance decreases with aging, it is important to understand the influence of aging on muscle functions of lower limb multi-joint movements.
Objective:
To investigate aging-related differences in the maximum force, unloaded velocity and power of muscles that control leg multi-joint movements.
Methods:
285 recreationally active men (n = 142) and women (n = 143) aged between 18 and 82 years volunteered for the study. Lower limb muscle function was measured with a servo-controlled dynamometer and the maximum isometric force (F(max)), unloaded velocity (V(max)) and power (P(max)) were determined by the force-velocity and force-power relations.
Results:
With increasing age, F(max)/body mass significantly declines in both men (r = -0.400, p <0.001) and women (r = -0.587, p < 0.001), while V(max)/leg length does not change with age in either men (r = -0.033, p > 0.05) or women (r = -0.040, p > 0.05). P(max) significantly declines with age in both men (r = -0.370, p < 0.001) and women (r = -0.446, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Aging does not have effects on the shortening velocity, although it causes a decrease in maximum force and power of leg multi-joint movements. This finding suggests that decreases in muscle force-generating capacity and power may primarily lead to the loss of mobility and a reduced capability of accelerating and decelerating the body mass during the movements in elderly individuals.
