The Changes of Muscle Strength and Functional Activities During Aging in Male and Female Populations

Background: Aging is associated with the loss of muscle strength and difficulties in functional activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of muscle strength and functional activities during aging in male and female individuals. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study r...

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Main Authors: Shih-Jung Cheng, Yea-Ru Yang, Fang-Yu Cheng, I-Hsuan Chen, Ray-Yau Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency and Critical Medicine (TSGECM) 2014-12-01
Series:International Journal of Gerontology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187395981400091X
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author Shih-Jung Cheng
Yea-Ru Yang
Fang-Yu Cheng
I-Hsuan Chen
Ray-Yau Wang
author_facet Shih-Jung Cheng
Yea-Ru Yang
Fang-Yu Cheng
I-Hsuan Chen
Ray-Yau Wang
author_sort Shih-Jung Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Background: Aging is associated with the loss of muscle strength and difficulties in functional activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of muscle strength and functional activities during aging in male and female individuals. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study recruiting healthy individuals aged 40–89 years. The muscle strength of bilateral hip flexors, knee extensors, and ankle plantar flexors were measured. Activities including functional reach test, timed up and go test, and alternating stair stepping were also measured. Results: A total of 373 male and 371 female individuals participated in this study. The muscle strength of hip flexors and knee extensors were all significantly decreased after age 80 years as compared with the age group of 40–49 years in both male and female groups. The abilities of functional reach and timed up and go task were significantly decreased after age 70 years in the male group and decreased after age 60 years in the female group as compared with the age group of 40–49 years. Conclusion: We noted that the muscle strength and functional activities were decreased earlier in female than male individuals. The decrease of functional activities during the aging process seems to be earlier than the decrease of muscle strength. It is important to implement functional activities training in addition to strengthening exercise to maintain functional levels of the geriatric population.
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spelling doaj.art-4c990f71cbbf42449589cf34e047fc3f2022-12-21T22:58:59ZengTaiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency and Critical Medicine (TSGECM)International Journal of Gerontology1873-95982014-12-018419720210.1016/j.ijge.2013.08.014The Changes of Muscle Strength and Functional Activities During Aging in Male and Female PopulationsShih-Jung Cheng0Yea-Ru Yang1Fang-Yu Cheng2I-Hsuan Chen3Ray-Yau Wang4Department of Neurology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, TaiwanBackground: Aging is associated with the loss of muscle strength and difficulties in functional activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of muscle strength and functional activities during aging in male and female individuals. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study recruiting healthy individuals aged 40–89 years. The muscle strength of bilateral hip flexors, knee extensors, and ankle plantar flexors were measured. Activities including functional reach test, timed up and go test, and alternating stair stepping were also measured. Results: A total of 373 male and 371 female individuals participated in this study. The muscle strength of hip flexors and knee extensors were all significantly decreased after age 80 years as compared with the age group of 40–49 years in both male and female groups. The abilities of functional reach and timed up and go task were significantly decreased after age 70 years in the male group and decreased after age 60 years in the female group as compared with the age group of 40–49 years. Conclusion: We noted that the muscle strength and functional activities were decreased earlier in female than male individuals. The decrease of functional activities during the aging process seems to be earlier than the decrease of muscle strength. It is important to implement functional activities training in addition to strengthening exercise to maintain functional levels of the geriatric population.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187395981400091Xagefunctional activitygendermuscle strength
spellingShingle Shih-Jung Cheng
Yea-Ru Yang
Fang-Yu Cheng
I-Hsuan Chen
Ray-Yau Wang
The Changes of Muscle Strength and Functional Activities During Aging in Male and Female Populations
International Journal of Gerontology
age
functional activity
gender
muscle strength
title The Changes of Muscle Strength and Functional Activities During Aging in Male and Female Populations
title_full The Changes of Muscle Strength and Functional Activities During Aging in Male and Female Populations
title_fullStr The Changes of Muscle Strength and Functional Activities During Aging in Male and Female Populations
title_full_unstemmed The Changes of Muscle Strength and Functional Activities During Aging in Male and Female Populations
title_short The Changes of Muscle Strength and Functional Activities During Aging in Male and Female Populations
title_sort changes of muscle strength and functional activities during aging in male and female populations
topic age
functional activity
gender
muscle strength
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187395981400091X
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