PEAK ANAEROBIC POWER IN MASTER ATHLETES

The age-related decline in maximal physical performance of healthy subjects may be attributed both to the aging process per se and/or to a progressive reduction in physical activity. In two groups of master athletes, power (P) or endurance (E) trained (n = 115; aged 40-78 years), the degree and rate of the age-related deterioration of the maximal instantaneous muscle power (peak power, W(peak)), and the relative contribution of quantitative (muscle mass) and qualitative factors possibly underlying such deterioration were determined. Two groups of young athletes (n = 20; 17-26 years) and healthy untrained subjects (U, n = 37; 22-67 years) were also tested for comparison. The following two variables were assessed, firstly the lower limb muscle plus bone volume (LMV) by anthropometry, and secondly W(peak), by means of a standardized vertical jump off both feet, performed on a force platform. The results obtained were that LMV of E and P, as well as of U, was about the same between age 20 and 45 years, whereas at older ages a progressive reduction was observed; the LMV values were higher in P than in E and U. The W(peak), expressed in W and in W.kg-1 body mass, both in E and P, decreased linearly as a function of age, being at age 75 years about 50% of the value measured at age 20 years (corresponding to a reduction of about 1%.year-1); when W(peak) was expressed per kg of LMV, the percentage reduction between athletes aged 20 and 45 years was the same as that observed for W(peak), in W and W.kg-1 body mass, whereas between age 45 and 75 years the difference was almost halved; in all age-groups (with the exception of the oldest) W(peak) was higher in P than in E and in U. It was concluded that at 75 years W(peak) was reduced, both in absolute units and per kg body mass, to about 50% of the value measured at age 20 years; up to about age 45 years such deterioration was mainly attributable to qualitative factors, whereas after that age quantitative (muscle mass) factors were also involved.