Age-Related Differences between Old and Very Old Men in Performance and Fatigability Are Evident after Cycling but Not Isometric or Concentric Single-Limb Tasks

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to compare performance and fatigability between young (n = 13; 18-30 yr), old (n = 13; 60-80 yr), and very old (n = 12; >80 yr) men during a single-joint isometric (ISO) and concentric (CON) task performed on an isokinetic dynamometer and a cycling (BIKE) task.

Methods: Participants randomly performed incremental tasks consisting of stages of 75 contractions (i.e., 120 s, 0.8 s on/0.8 s off) for ISO and CON and 120 s at 37.5 rpm (similar duty cycle) for BIKE. Increments were set as a percentage of body weight. Knee extensor maximal force, voluntary activation, and twitch amplitude were measured at baseline, after each stage, and at task failure (five out of eight contractions below the target force or 6 s in a row at a cadence <37.5 rpm).

Results: Compared with young men, performance (number of stages) was 24% and 40% lower in old and very old men in ISO, 54% and 59% lower in CON, and 36% and 60% lower in BIKE (all P < 0.05). Performance of old and very old differed only in BIKE (P < 0.01). For the last common stages performed, compared with young, force loss was greater for very old men in ISO and for old and very old men in BIKE (all P < 0.05). Overall, for the last common stage performed and task failure, old and very old men presented similar force loss, alterations in voluntary activation, and twitch amplitude.

Conclusions: Our findings reveal that, with workloads relative to body weight, differences in performance between old and very old men could only be observed during BIKE (i.e., the more ecologically valid task). Results from isometric or concentric conditions might not be transferable to dynamic exercise with large muscle masses.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04516538.