The Influence of Age, Joint Angle, and Muscle Group on Strength Production Characteristics at the Knee Joint. 2018

Brennan J Thompson, and Morgan Whitson, and Eric J Sobolewski, and Matt S Stock
Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan.

The current understanding of age-related declines in muscle strength capacities is largely based upon strength testing at joint angles of optimal performance, but many activities of daily living involve force generation at muscle lengths/angles outside of optimal force. This study investigated the influence of age, joint angle, and muscle group (knee extensors and flexors) on maximal and rapid strength characteristics. Young (n = 21; age = 22.1 years) and older (23; 72.6 years) adults performed maximal voluntary contractions for the knee extensors and flexors at 20°, 60°, and 90° joint angles. Peak torque (PT) and rate of torque development (RTD) were calculated. An age, angle, and muscle interaction was found for PT, revealing differences for the knee flexors at all three joint angles for the older adults, whereas the young adults were similar between the 20° and 60° angles. The later RTD variable showed an age and muscle group interaction, whereas no interactions were found for early RTD. The angle of strength testing for maximal strength (PT) of the knee flexors showed dissimilar changes in strength characteristics for young versus older adults across joint angles. For later RTD variables, the testing angle was a more prominent factor for the knee extensors, but less so for the flexors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007719 Knee Joint A synovial hinge connection formed between the bones of the FEMUR; TIBIA; and PATELLA. Superior Tibiofibular Joint,Joint, Knee,Joint, Superior Tibiofibular,Knee Joints,Superior Tibiofibular Joints,Tibiofibular Joint, Superior
D008297 Male Males
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000203 Activities of Daily Living The performance of the basic activities of self care, such as dressing, ambulation, or eating. ADL,Chronic Limitation of Activity,Limitation of Activity, Chronic,Activities, Daily Living,Activity, Daily Living,Daily Living Activities,Daily Living Activity,Living Activities, Daily,Living Activity, Daily
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000375 Aging The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time. Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D053580 Muscle Strength The amount of force generated by MUSCLE CONTRACTION. Muscle strength can be measured during isometric, isotonic, or isokinetic contraction, either manually or using a device such as a MUSCLE STRENGTH DYNAMOMETER. Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition,Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibitions,Inhibition, Arthrogenic Muscle,Muscle Inhibition, Arthrogenic,Strength, Muscle
D055815 Young Adult A person between 19 and 24 years of age. Adult, Young,Adults, Young,Young Adults
D019415 Torque The rotational force about an axis that is equal to the product of a force times the distance from the axis where the force is applied. Torques

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