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Updated: May 23, 2026

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Evolving concepts on the age-related changes in "muscle quality"
David W Russ1, Kimberly Gregg-Cornell, Matthew J Conaway
1Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI), Ohio University, 236 Irvine Hall, Athens, OH, 45701, USA, russd@ohio.edu.
Aging causes skeletal muscle dysfunction, leading to weakness and disability in the elderly. This review explores age-related neuromuscular changes contributing to dynapenia, or the loss of muscle strength and power.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Skeletal muscle aging is linked to debilitating conditions like muscle weakness and physical disability in the elderly.
- Age-associated decline in muscle strength is a significant predictor of mortality.
- Muscle force generation depends on both muscle size and neuromuscular factors, both affected by aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review age-associated changes in the neuromuscular system.
- To identify factors contributing to dynapenia (age-related loss of muscle strength and power).
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on aging and the neuromuscular system.
- Examination of changes from the brain down to individual muscle fibers.
- Analysis of factors influencing muscle quality (strength relative to size).
Main Results:
- Neurologic and skeletal muscle biologic properties are altered with aging.
- These age-related changes potentially contribute to dynapenia.
- Muscle quality is a key concept in understanding age-related strength loss.
Conclusions:
- Dynapenia results from complex age-related alterations across the entire neuromuscular system.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for addressing age-related muscle dysfunction.
- Further research into neuromuscular adaptations to aging is warranted.
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