Muscle function and postural balance in lifelong trained male footballers compared with sedentary elderly men and youngsters
E. Sundstrup
Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorM. D. Jakobsen
Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJ. L. Andersen
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorM. B. Randers
Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Petersen
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amager Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorC. Suetta
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorP. Aagaard
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorP. Krustrup
Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorE. Sundstrup
Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorM. D. Jakobsen
Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJ. L. Andersen
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorM. B. Randers
Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Petersen
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amager Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorC. Suetta
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorP. Aagaard
Bispebjerg Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen and Centre for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorP. Krustrup
Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The present study investigated whether elderly subjects exposed to lifelong football training have better rapid muscle force characteristics, body composition and postural stability in comparison with untrained elderly. Ten elderly men exposed to lifelong football training (FTE; 69.6 ± 1.4 years) and eight age-matched untrained elderly men (UE; 70.5 ± 1.0 years) were studied and 49 untrained young men (UY; 32.4 ± 0.9 years) served as a reference group. FTE showed an elevated rate of force development (RFD) and impulse at 0–30, 100 and 200 ms (relative RFD at 1/6 MVC: 567 ± 39 vs 353 ± 42% MVC/s), higher total lean body mass (56.9 ± 0.8 vs 52.7 ± 2.2 kg) and better postural stability (Flamingo test: 15 ± 1 vs 33 ± 2 falls) compared with UE (P<0.05), with no difference between FTE and UY. The proportion of type IIA fibers was higher and the area percentage of type IIX fibers was lower in FTE than in UE (P<0.05). Rapid muscle force characteristics and postural stability were consistently higher in elderly subjects exposed to lifelong football training, providing an enhanced ability to counteract unexpected perturbations in postural balance. The superior RFD and balance in elderly footballers were of such a magnitude that no deficit could be observed when compared with young untrained individuals.
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