Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Physical Activity And Amyloid Beta In Middle-Aged And Older Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, María Rodriguez-Ayllon, Patricio Solis-Urra, Cristina Arroyo-Ávila, Miriam Álvarez-Ortega, Pablo Molina-García, Cristina Molina-Hidalgo, Manuel Gómez-Río, Belinda Brown, Kirk I. Erickson, Irene Esteban-Cornejo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: One of the pathological hallmarks distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other dementias is the accumulation of amyloid beta (A ). Higher physical activity is associated with decreased dementia risk, and one potential path could be through A levels modulation. We aimed to explore the relationship between physical activity and A in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SPORTDiscus was performed from inception to April 28, 2022. Studies were eligible if they included physical activity and A data in adults aged 45 years or older. Multi-level …

Short-Term Cd8+ T Cell Depletion Results In Blunted Liver Inflammation In Old Mice, Konner J. Terrebonne, David J. Buckley, Blessy Joseph, Sunita Sharma, Daniel W. Trott

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Advanced age is associated with an increase in basal inflammation of the organs. Previously we have found that T cells accumulate in the liver of old mice. A large proportion of these cells are CD8+ and produce inflammatory cytokines. We have previously demonstrated that CD8+ T cell depletion results in improved glucose tolerance in old mice. However, the mechanisms by which CD8+ depletion improves glucose tolerance is unclear. Therefore, we sought to determine whether pharmacologic CD8+ depletion would result in decreased liver specific inflammation in old mice compared to their old CD8+ intact counterparts. PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis …

Effects Of Exercise Training On Muscle Quality In Older Individuals: A Systematic Scoping Review With Meta-Analyses, Tibor Hortobágyi, Tomas Vetrovsky, Jennifer S. Brach, Martijn Van Haren, Krystof Volesky, Regis Radaelli, Pedro Lopez, Urs Granacher

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The quantity and quality of skeletal muscle are important determinants of daily function and metabolic health. Various forms of physical exercise can improve muscle function, but this effect can be inconsistent and has not been systematically examined across the health-neurological disease continuum. The purpose of this systematic scoping review with meta-analyses was to determine the effects and potential moderators of exercise training on morphological and neuromuscular muscle quality (MMQ, NMQ) in healthy older individuals. In addition and in the form of a scoping review, we examined the effects of exercise training on NMQ and MMQ in individuals with neurological …

Obstacle Crossing In Healthy Young And Older Individuals, Hope M. Hanson, Ashlyn M. Jendro, Abigail C. Schmitt

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: In the United States, the average population age is rising and will continue to increase in the coming years.With an older population comes increased risk of injury associated with falls. Falls are considered a leading cause of injury and death in older individuals, and many falls are caused by body imbalance or obstacle collision due to a clearly visible stationary object (e.g., rug, chair, branch). Older adults tend to cross obstacles with increased toe clearance in order to prevent tripping, but much of what is known about obstacle crossing in older adults is limited to artificial obstacles that are …

Role Of Ghrelin Receptor In Sarcopenia: Involvement Of Redox Signaling And Rankl., Mariam A. Othman, Joo Hyun Kim, Khaled Moustfa, John Lawler

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Sarcopenia is aging-induced debilitating loss of skeletal muscle strength and function. Evidence from aging research suggests an integration of disrupted mechanotransduction and oxidative stress elevation that leads to muscle atrophy. Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide hormone circulating in both acylated (AG) and unacylated (UAG) forms that acts as a nutrient sensor and metabolic regulator. Acylated ghrelin then binds to the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) or the “ghrelin receptor.” Emerging evidence indicates that GHS-R knockout may hold greater promise in protecting against sarcopenia and fasting-induced atrophy (Wu 2020, Sun 2020). Furthermore, ghrelin can promote the elevation of nNOS, …

Age-Related Changes In Skeletal Muscle Oxygen Utilization: A Review, Maxwell T. Aiken, Sabrina S. Salvatore, Kyle N. Zelenski, Ryan K. Perkins

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The cardiovascular and skeletal muscle systems are intrinsically interconnected, sharing the goal of delivering oxygen to metabolically active tissue. Deficiencies within those systems that affect oxygen delivery to working tissues are a hallmark of advancing age. Oxygen delivery and utilization are reflected as muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) and may be assessed using near-infrared resonance spectroscopy (NIRS). PURPOSE: This review is intended to provide an update on the current state of literature regarding age-related effects on SmO₂. Furthermore, we attempt to bridge the gap between SmO₂ and associated underlying mechanisms affected by aging. FINDINGS: SmO …

The Effect Of Exercise Modality On Age-Related Changes Observed During Running, Brianne Borgia, Janet S. Dufek, Kara N. Radzak, Julia Freedman Silvernail

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: With the increase in participation by older adults in endurance events, research is needed to evaluate how exercising throughout the lifespan can afect the aging process regarding gait and mobility. The purpose of this study was to determine how the type of exercise modality one participates in will affect age-related declines observed during running.

Methods: Fifty-six individuals between the ages of 18–65 who considered running, resistance training or cycling/ swimming as their primary form of activity participated in this study. Kinematics were captured using a 10-camera motion capture system while participants ran at a controlled pace of 3.5 m/s …

A Smartwatch Step-Counting App For Older Adults: Development And Evaluation Study, George Boateng, Curtis L. Petersen, David Kotz, Karen L. Fortuna, Rebecca Masutani, John A. Batsis

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Older adults who engage in physical activity can reduce their risk of mobility impairment and disability. Short amounts of walking can improve quality of life, physical function, and cardiovascular health. Various programs have been implemented to encourage older adults to engage in physical activity, but sustaining their motivation continues to be a challenge. Ubiquitous devices, such as mobile phones and smartwatches, coupled with machine-learning algorithms, can potentially encourage older adults to be more physically active. Current algorithms that are deployed in consumer devices (eg, Fitbit) are proprietary, often are not tailored to the movements of older adults, and have …

Macrophage Response To Damage In Old And Young Skeletal Muscle, Jack Mehling, Robert D. Hyldahl, Mohadeseh Ahmadi

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: In skeletal muscle, macrophages migrate to damaged fibers, influencing the inflammatory response during muscle regeneration. Macrophages experience polarization, exhibiting different phenotypes described as M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory.) Failure to properly transition between phenotypes inhibits fiber regeneration. Previous animal literature suggests that dysregulated macrophage polarization may contribute to the decreased regenerative capacity of aging muscle. The purpose of this study is to quantify macrophage response and polarization in a model of muscle damage and regeneration in older humans. We hypothesized that older people would have a higher percentage of M2 macrophages relative to the young. METHODS: Seven …

Are Age-Related Differences In Critical Power And Work-Prime Simply Due To Differences In Muscle Mass, Abigail Dorff

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Critical Power (CP) represents the threshold between sustainable, steady-state and unsustainable, non-steady-state exercise while Work Prime (W’) represents tolerable work above CP. The combination of CP and W’ potently influence exercise tolerance. We recently observed age-related reductions in both CP and W’ in active adults. Age-related decreases in muscle mass, which was not measured, could account for the reduction in CP and W’. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine if CP and W’ are decreased in active, older adults when normalizing for muscle mass. METHODS: Single leg knee extension exercise was used to determine CP …

Comparison Of Constant Load Exercise Intensity For Verification Of Maximal Oxygen Uptake Following A Graded Exercise Test In Older Adults, Ian R. Villanueva, John C. Campbell, Serena M. Medina, Theresa M. Jorgensen, Shannon L. Wilson, Siddhartha S. Angadi, Glenn A. Gaesser, Jared M. Dickinson

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) declines with advancing age and is a predictor of morbidity and mortality risk. The purpose here was to assess the utility of constant load tests performed either above or below peak work rate obtained from a graded exercise test for verification of VO₂max in older adults. Twenty-two healthy older adults (9M, 13F, 67 ± 6 years, BMI: 26.3 ± 5.1 kg·m⁻²) participated in the study. Participants were asked to complete two experimental trials in a randomized, counterbalanced cross-over design. Both trials (cycle ergometer) consisted of (1) an identical graded exercise …

The Effect Of Acute And Chronic Thermotherapy On Type 2 Diabetic Skeletal Muscle Cell Viability And Gene Expression: Pilot Study, Louay Bachnak, Jean Sparks, Xavier F. Gonzales, Daniel Newmire, Felix Omoruyi

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease affecting millions of people globally. Type 2 diabetes is associated with insulin resistance or a defective secretion of insulin from the pancreas. The skeletal muscle system accounts for 80% of glucose uptake and is a vital player in healthy aging and muscle mass maintenance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thermotherapy on gene expression and cell viability in Type 2 Diabetic skeletal muscle. METHODS: Human skeletal muscle myoblast (HSMM) and Diabetic Type 2 human skeletal muscle myoblast (D-HSMM) (Lonza Inc, Walkersville, MD) were cultured until 90% confluency was, …

Exploring The Role Of Bmp7 Gene Expression In An In Vitro Model Of Aging Human Skeletal Muscle., Dreanna M. Mcadams, Emily L. Zumbro, Chase M. White, Ryan A. Gordon, Anthony A. Duplanty

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Sarcopenia is an age-related condition associated with rapid loss of skeletal muscle (SKM) tissue that affects mobility and quality of life of geriatric individuals. Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) and Protein Kinase B (AKT) have significant roles in SKM hypertrophy with responses to DNA damage and repair within SKM. However, mTOR and AKT expression is significantly decreased with age. Upstream of AKT, Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP7) is a member of the TGF-β signaling family that has been reported as a positive regulator of muscle hypertrophy through the Bmp–Smad1/5/8 signaling axis. PURPOSE: To use an in vitro model of aging …

Improvement In Physical Function And Quality Of Life In Older Adults Following 4 Weeks Of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, Monica A. Mendoza, Mitchell S. Kane, Nigel C. Jiwan, Kyndall P. Ramirez, Lindsay E. Kipp Ph.D, Joni A. Mettler Ph.D

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Older adults often suffer from sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, which negatively impacts physical function and quality of life (QoL). Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is frequently used in physical rehabilitation as a muscle strengthening modality; however, little research exists on QoL outcomes in response to NMES. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine changes in QoL and physical function in older adults after 4 weeks of NMES. METHODS: Ten healthy, older adults participated in the study (67.8 ± 2.1 years-old). Each participant was seated on an isokinetic dynamometer with the knee positioned at 60°, …

The Association Of Handgrip Strength And Mortality: What Does It Tell Us And What Can We Do With It?, Samuel L. Buckner, Scott J. Dankel, Zachary W. Bell, Takashi Abe, Jeremy P. Loenneke

Faculty and Student Publications

© Copyright 2019, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 2019. The relationship between grip strength and mortality is often used to underscore the importance of resistance exercise in physical activity guidelines. However, grip strength does not appear to appreciably change following traditional resistance training. Thus, grip strength could be considered reflective of strength independent of resistance exercise. If true, grip strength is not necessarily informing us of the importance of resistance exercise as an adult, but potentially highlighting inherent differences between individuals who are stronger at "baseline" compared to their weaker counterpart. The purpose of this article is to discuss: (1) …

Cognitive Changes Following Multiple-Modality Exercise And Mind-Motor Training In Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Complaints: The M4 Study, Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Dawn P. Gill, Adrian M. Owen, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Vladimir Hachinski, Ryosuke Shigematsu, Robert Petrella

Lifestyle Research Team

Background

We investigated the effects of multiple-modality exercise with additional mind-motor training on cognition in community-dwelling older adults with subjective cognitive complaints.

Methods

Participants (n = 127, mean age 67.5 [7.3] years, 71% women) were randomized to receive 45 minutes of multiple-modality exercise with additional 15 minutes of either mind-motor training (M4, n = 63) or control (balance, range of motion and breathing exercises [M2, n = 64]). In total, both groups exercised 60 minutes/day, 3 days/week, for 24 weeks. Standardized global cognitive functioning (GCF), concentration, reasoning, planning, and memory were assessed at 24 weeks and after a 28-week no-contact …

Cognitive Changes Following Multiple-Modality Exercise And Mind-Motor Training In Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Complaints: The M4 Study, Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Dawn P. Gill, Adrian M. Owen, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Vladimir Hachinski, Ryosuke Shigematsu, Robert Petrella

Lifestyle Research Team

Background

We investigated the effects of multiple-modality exercise with additional mind-motor training on cognition in community-dwelling older adults with subjective cognitive complaints.

Methods

Participants (n = 127, mean age 67.5 [7.3] years, 71% women) were randomized to receive 45 minutes of multiple-modality exercise with additional 15 minutes of either mind-motor training (M4, n = 63) or control (balance, range of motion and breathing exercises [M2, n = 64]). In total, both groups exercised 60 minutes/day, 3 days/week, for 24 weeks. Standardized global cognitive functioning (GCF), concentration, reasoning, planning, and memory were assessed at 24 weeks and after a 28-week no-contact …

The Impact Of Blood Pressure Dipping Status On Cognition, Mobility And Cardiovascular Health In Older Adults Following An Exercise Program, Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Michael A. Greagory, Dawn P. Gill, Cheri L. Mcgowan, Robert Petrella

Lifestyle Research Team

Objectives: To determine whether a dual-task gait and aerobic exercise intervention differentially impacted older adults with normal blood pressure (BP) dipping status (dippers) compared to those with nondipping status (nondippers).

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis involving participants (mean age = 70.3 years, 61% women) who attended a laboratory-based exercise intervention over a 6-month period (40 min/day and 3 days/week). Participants were assessed in measures of cognition, mobility, and cardiovascular health at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months (after a 6-month no-contact follow-up).

Results: We observed improvements in cognition in both groups at 6 and 12 months, although no …

Resistance Training-Induced Gains In Muscle Strength, Body Composition, And Functional Capacity Are Attenuated In Elderly Women With Sarcopenic Obesity, Alessandro De Oliveira Silva, Maurílio Tiradentes Dutra, Wilson Max Almeida Monteiro De Moraes, Silvana Schwerz Funghetto, Darlan Lopes De Farias, Paulo Henrique Fernandes Dos Santos, Denis Cesar Leite Vieira, Dahan Da Cunha Nascimento, Vânia Silva Macedo Orsano, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Jonato Prestes

Publications and Research

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of resistance training (RT) on body composition, muscle strength, and functional capacity in elderly women with and without sarcopenic obesity (SO).

Methods: A total of 49 women (aged $60 years) were divided in two groups: without SO (non-SO, n=41) and with SO (n=8). Both groups performed a periodized RT program consisting of two weekly sessions for 16 weeks. All measures were assessed at baseline and postintervention, including anthropometry and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), muscle strength (one repetition maximum) for chest press and 45° leg press, and functional capacity …

Exercise In Aging: Can Handgrip Training Improve Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Recovery Kinetics?, Susie Chung, Ryan Rosenberry 2450189, Paul Bhella, Michael Nelson

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Loss of skeletal muscle function is a key factor contributing to reduced mobility and quality of life in aging individuals. While the exact mechanism remains unclear, impaired skeletal muscle oxidative capacity has been shown to play a major role. Exercise training increases oxidative capacity early in life; however, the potential for exercise to improve oxidative capacity later in life remains equivocal. PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that 4 weeks of exercise training can improve skeletal muscle oxidative capacity in elderly individuals beyond the 6^th decade of life. METHODS: To-date, 4 community-dwelling seniors from the local Dallas-Fort Worth …

Stress Testing For Diastolic Dysfunction: An Old Approach To A New Question, T. Jake Samuel, Rhys Beaudry, Mark J. Haykowsky, Satyam Sarma, Michael D. Nelson

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

BACKGROUND: Currently, conventional cycle echocardiography is the recommended method for diagnosing diastolic dysfunction in patients with unexplained dyspnea upon exertion. However, this method has several underlying limitations including movement and respiratory artifact. These limitations are often exaggerated in patients who are obese and suffer from exertional dyspnea, and therefore limit its application in clinical diagnosis. Our group recently demonstrated that isometric handgrip echocardiography is a powerful sub-clinical diastolic discriminator that avoids the limitations of conventional cycle echocardiography and that can be easily implemented in the clinic. PURPOSE: However, to date it remains unclear how these two methodologies compare, and thus …

The Constituent Year Effect: Relative Age Disparities In Australian Masters Track And Field Athletic Participation, Nikola Medic, Jasmine Lares, Bradley W. Young

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The constituent year effect, a source of relative age disparities, in masters sport has been demonstrated mainly amongst North American samples. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether a participation-related constituent year effect exists among athletes (n = 6492) competing in Australian Masters Athletics competitions between 2000 and 2014. The results indicated that a participation-related constituent year effect was observed as the likelihood of participating was significantly higher for masters athletes in their first and second constituent year of any five-year age category (p < 0.0001) and was lower when they were in the fourth or fifth constituent year. The results also indicated this effect is influenced by gender and age. Specifically, the effect was significant for both male (p < 0.0001) and female (p < 0.001) masters athletes; as well during the third, sixth, seventh, and eighth + decades of life (all ps < 0.001). These data demonstrate that despite masters sport being an avenue for promotion of participation and overall health, there is potential for improving how competitive organizational strategies are implemented given the recurring intermittent patterns of participation associated with five-year age brackets which are likely to compromise benefits.

Bioactive Growth Hormone In Older Men And Women: Its Relationship To Immune Markers And Healthspan, William J. Kraemer, Mary J. Kennett, Andrea M. Mastro, Roger J. Mccarter, Connie J. Rogers, William H. Dupont, Shawn D. Flanagan, William J. Turbitt, Maren S. Fragala, Emily M. Post, Wesley C. Hymer

Health and Sport Sciences Faculty Scholarship

Objective: The consequences of age-related decline in the somatotropic axis of humans are complex and remain largely unresolved. We tested the hypothesis that hGH measurements of plasma by bioassay vs immunoassay from samples obtained from free-living, elderly individuals would reveal a dichotomy in GH activities that are correlated with the functional status of the donors, i.e. their healthspan.

Design: Forty-one men and women of advanced age (men: N=16, age, 80.5±6.5years; height, 173.1±6.9cm; body mass, 81.8±13.0kg) and (women: N=25, age, 80.7±7.2years; height, 157.7±6.0cm; body mass, 68.8±17kg), were recruited for a cross-sectional study. Participants filled out PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, …

The Phenomenology Of Masters Alpine Ski Racers: Experiencing Ski Racing In Old Age, Carly Litchfield

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis is a study of the lived experience of ten older adult alpine ski racers in their continued participation in ski racing. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of these older adults as they continued to compete in ski racing. Masters skiers between the ages of 69 and 82 participated in individual interviews lasting between 30 and 60 minutes. Data analysis was completed using van Manen’s phenomenological methods and the visual technique of mind mapping. The major theme that emerged was the importance of being a ski racer to participants’ identities. The …

Fatigability And Recovery Of Arm Muscles With Advanced Age For Dynamic And Isometric Contractions, Tejin Yoon, Bonnie Schlinder-Delap, Sandra K. Hunter

Bonnie A Schlinder-Delap Mrs.

This study determined whether age-related mechanisms can increase fatigue of arm muscles during maximal velocity dynamic contractions, as it occurs in the lower limb. We compared elbow flexor fatigue of young (n = 10, 20.8 ± 2.7 years) and old men (n = 16, 73.8 ± 6.1 years) during and in recovery from a dynamic and an isometric postural fatiguing task. Each task was maintained until failure while supporting a load equivalent to 20% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to assess supraspinal fatigue (superimposed twitch, SIT) and muscle relaxation. Time to failure …

Validity Of Boston Marathon Qualifying Times, Paul M. Vanderburgh

Paul M. Vanderburgh

Purpose: To assess the validity of Boston Marathon qualifying (BMQ) standards for men and women. Methods: Percent differences between BMQ and current world records (WR) by sex and age group were computed. WR was chosen as the criterion comparison because it is not confounded by intensity, body composition, lifestyle, or environmental factors. A consistent difference across age groups would indicate an appropriate slope of the age-vs-BMQ curve. Inconsistent differences were corrected by adjusting BMQ standards to achieve a uniform percentage difference from WR. Results: BMQ standards for men were consistently ~50% slower than WR (mean 51.5% ± 1.4%, range 49.6–54.4%), …

Quantifying The Effect Of Age And Contraction Mode On The Force-Velocity-Power Relationship In The Knee Extensors, Justin R. Paturel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

PURPOSE: To assess and compare the force-velocity-power relationship (F-V-P) using isotonic and isokinetic knee extensions in 11 younger (19-30y) and 11 older (69-81y) men. METHODS: The construction of the F-V-P curves were attained with each participant performing maximal, explosive knee extensions at 8 different loads (isotonic) and 8 different velocities (isokinetic) on a Cybex HUMAC NORM dynamometer. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC or P_o), maximal shortening velocity (V_max), maximum power, optimal torque (P_opt) and velocity (V_opt) were assessed and compared. RESULTS: The older men were 43% weaker, 18% slower and ~54% less powerful …

Validity Of Boston Marathon Qualifying Times, Paul M. Vanderburgh

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: To assess the validity of Boston Marathon qualifying (BMQ) standards for men and women. Methods: Percent differences between BMQ and current world records (WR) by sex and age group were computed. WR was chosen as the criterion comparison because it is not confounded by intensity, body composition, lifestyle, or environmental factors. A consistent difference across age groups would indicate an appropriate slope of the age-vs-BMQ curve. Inconsistent differences were corrected by adjusting BMQ standards to achieve a uniform percentage difference from WR. Results: BMQ standards for men were consistently ~50% slower than WR (mean 51.5% ± …

Fatigability And Recovery Of Arm Muscles With Advanced Age For Dynamic And Isometric Contractions, Tejin Yoon, Bonnie Schlinder-Delap, Sandra K. Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

This study determined whether age-related mechanisms can increase fatigue of arm muscles during maximal velocity dynamic contractions, as it occurs in the lower limb. We compared elbow flexor fatigue of young (n = 10, 20.8 ± 2.7 years) and old men (n = 16, 73.8 ± 6.1 years) during and in recovery from a dynamic and an isometric postural fatiguing task. Each task was maintained until failure while supporting a load equivalent to 20% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to assess supraspinal fatigue (superimposed twitch, SIT) and muscle relaxation. Time …

The Effects Of 6-Weeks Of Resistance Training On The Neuromuscular Fatigue Threshold In Older Adults, Nadia Emerson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Age-related deficits in muscle mass, strength, and function place an increased burden of work on existing skeletal muscle and may lead to early onset of neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) during activities of daily living. Resistance exercise (RE) is the proven method for improving neuromuscular function in healthy older adults. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of 6 weeks of RE on the NMF threshold as well as strength and functional performance in older adults. METHODS: Twenty-four older adults were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of RE (EXE; n = 12; age 72 ± 6.3 y; BMI 28.4 kg/m2 ) or control (CONT; …