Muscle strength and functional capacity in 78-81-year-old men and women

Muscle strength was measured in 23 men and 29 women regarded as representative of the healthy urban population of about 80 years of age. Isometric and isokinetic-strengths of right knee-extension, plantar, and dorsal flexion, and the isometric strength of some upper extremity functions were measured. For knee-extension there was a decrease in strength of about 30% from the values in a population study of 70-year-old subjects ( Aniansson et al. 1980). Muscle strength was significantly lower in women than in men in all muscle groups except for plantar and dorsal flexion of the foot. Body cell mass was reduced compared to younger age groups by about the same extent as muscle strength, and correlated to knee-extension and hand grip strengths. Functional examinations such as step tests and walking tests were performed. A correlation between the results of these tests and muscle strength was not found except for knee-extension at 60 degrees/s in men. The rather low speed in comfortable walking (men 1.0 m X s-1, women 0.9 m X s-1) and the reduced capacity for step climbing diminish the possibility of using public transport and pedestrian street intersections in relatively healthy old people.