Age-related differences of vastus lateralis muscle morphology, contractile properties, upper body grip strength and lower extremity functional capability in healthy adults aged 18 to 70 years

Abstract Background There is a lack of of cross-sectional research that has investigated muscle morphology, function, and functional capability in all age-bands of healthy adults. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate age-related differences in indices of vastus lateralis (VL) muscle morphol...

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Main Authors: Isobel Jacob, Mark I. Johnson, Gareth Jones, Ashley Jones, Peter Francis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-06-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03183-4
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author Isobel Jacob
Mark I. Johnson
Gareth Jones
Ashley Jones
Peter Francis
author_facet Isobel Jacob
Mark I. Johnson
Gareth Jones
Ashley Jones
Peter Francis
author_sort Isobel Jacob
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background There is a lack of of cross-sectional research that has investigated muscle morphology, function, and functional capability in all age-bands of healthy adults. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate age-related differences in indices of vastus lateralis (VL) muscle morphology, function and functional capability in a sample of healthy males and females aged 18-70yrs. Secondary aims were to evaluate relationships between age and VL muscle morphology and function and functional capability. Methods B mode Ultrasonography and Tensiomyography were used to measure VL muscle thickness, pennation angle, fascicle length, and contractile properties in 274 healthy adults aged 18-70yrs. Measurements of grip strength and functional capability (1-min chair rise test) were also taken. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlations, one-way ANOVAs, and multiple regressions. Results Negative correlations were found between age and muscle thickness (rs = -.56), pennation angle (rs = -.50), fascicle length (rs = -.30), maximal displacement (rs = -.24), grip strength (rs = -.27) and the 1-min chair rise test (rs = -.32). Positive correlations were observed between age and the echo intensity of the muscle (rs = .40) and total contraction time (rs = .20). Differences in the indices of muscle health were noticeable between the 18–29 age band and the 50–59 and 60–70 age bands (p < 0.05). The interaction of age and level of physical activity predicted changes in the variables (r2 = .04—.32). Conclusion Age-related differences in muscle health are noticeable at 50 years of age, and age-related differences are larger in females compared to males. It was suggested that the thickness of the VL changed the most with age across the adult lifespan and that physical activity likely acts to abate detrimental change.
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spelling doaj.art-967f9dadc60d4d0889e221dae7c20dc12022-12-22T02:27:56ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182022-06-0122111510.1186/s12877-022-03183-4Age-related differences of vastus lateralis muscle morphology, contractile properties, upper body grip strength and lower extremity functional capability in healthy adults aged 18 to 70 yearsIsobel Jacob0Mark I. Johnson1Gareth Jones2Ashley Jones3Peter Francis4Musculoskeletal Health Research Group, Leeds Beckett UniversityCentre for Pain Research, Leeds Beckett UniversityMusculoskeletal Health Research Group, Leeds Beckett UniversityMusculoskeletal Health Research Group, Leeds Beckett UniversityMusculoskeletal Health Research Group, Leeds Beckett UniversityAbstract Background There is a lack of of cross-sectional research that has investigated muscle morphology, function, and functional capability in all age-bands of healthy adults. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate age-related differences in indices of vastus lateralis (VL) muscle morphology, function and functional capability in a sample of healthy males and females aged 18-70yrs. Secondary aims were to evaluate relationships between age and VL muscle morphology and function and functional capability. Methods B mode Ultrasonography and Tensiomyography were used to measure VL muscle thickness, pennation angle, fascicle length, and contractile properties in 274 healthy adults aged 18-70yrs. Measurements of grip strength and functional capability (1-min chair rise test) were also taken. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlations, one-way ANOVAs, and multiple regressions. Results Negative correlations were found between age and muscle thickness (rs = -.56), pennation angle (rs = -.50), fascicle length (rs = -.30), maximal displacement (rs = -.24), grip strength (rs = -.27) and the 1-min chair rise test (rs = -.32). Positive correlations were observed between age and the echo intensity of the muscle (rs = .40) and total contraction time (rs = .20). Differences in the indices of muscle health were noticeable between the 18–29 age band and the 50–59 and 60–70 age bands (p < 0.05). The interaction of age and level of physical activity predicted changes in the variables (r2 = .04—.32). Conclusion Age-related differences in muscle health are noticeable at 50 years of age, and age-related differences are larger in females compared to males. It was suggested that the thickness of the VL changed the most with age across the adult lifespan and that physical activity likely acts to abate detrimental change.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03183-4Muscle healthMuscle thicknessMuscle architectureFunctionStrengthAge
spellingShingle Isobel Jacob
Mark I. Johnson
Gareth Jones
Ashley Jones
Peter Francis
Age-related differences of vastus lateralis muscle morphology, contractile properties, upper body grip strength and lower extremity functional capability in healthy adults aged 18 to 70 years
BMC Geriatrics
Muscle health
Muscle thickness
Muscle architecture
Function
Strength
Age
title Age-related differences of vastus lateralis muscle morphology, contractile properties, upper body grip strength and lower extremity functional capability in healthy adults aged 18 to 70 years
title_full Age-related differences of vastus lateralis muscle morphology, contractile properties, upper body grip strength and lower extremity functional capability in healthy adults aged 18 to 70 years
title_fullStr Age-related differences of vastus lateralis muscle morphology, contractile properties, upper body grip strength and lower extremity functional capability in healthy adults aged 18 to 70 years
title_full_unstemmed Age-related differences of vastus lateralis muscle morphology, contractile properties, upper body grip strength and lower extremity functional capability in healthy adults aged 18 to 70 years
title_short Age-related differences of vastus lateralis muscle morphology, contractile properties, upper body grip strength and lower extremity functional capability in healthy adults aged 18 to 70 years
title_sort age related differences of vastus lateralis muscle morphology contractile properties upper body grip strength and lower extremity functional capability in healthy adults aged 18 to 70 years
topic Muscle health
Muscle thickness
Muscle architecture
Function
Strength
Age
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03183-4
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