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Age Related Changes in Motor Function (II). Decline in Motor Performance Outcomes
Rui Wu1, Massimiliano Ditroilo1, Eamonn Delahunt1
1School of Public Health Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin.
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|November 2, 2020
Summary
Aging impairs motor performance due to declines in muscle and nerve functions. Aged muscles exhibit reduced strength, speed, and altered fatigue resistance compared to younger muscles.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Motor Control
- Skeletal Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Age-related motor decline stems from mechanical and neuromuscular deterioration.
- Skeletal muscle function changes significantly with aging, affecting performance.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for addressing mobility issues in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review age-related impairments in motor performance.
- To identify key mechanical and neuromuscular factors contributing to these impairments.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on aging, motor performance, and neuromuscular function.
- Analysis of studies investigating muscle-tendon units, muscle fibers, and motor units.
Main Results:
- Aged skeletal muscle shows reduced strength, speed, and power during voluntary contractions.
- Isometric contractions in older adults are less steady, especially at low forces.
- Older adults exhibit altered fatigue susceptibility in sustained vs. dynamic contractions.
- Key factors include muscle mass loss, type II fiber atrophy, decreased tendon stiffness, and altered motor unit function.
Conclusions:
- Age-related motor impairments result from a complex interplay of mechanical and neuromuscular changes.
- Specific factors like muscle fiber atrophy and altered neural control significantly impact motor function in aging individuals.
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