Experimental Physiology Celebrating 100 years
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Physiology in Press

First published online on February 9, 2006.
Experimental Physiology (2006)
DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2005.032896
© The Physiological Society 2006
A more recent version of this article appeared on May 1, 2006
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (Rapid PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
91/3/483    most recent
expphysiol.2005.032896v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Reeves, N. D
Right arrow Articles by Maganaris, C. N
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Reeves, N. D
Right arrow Articles by Maganaris, C. N

Received November 28, 2005
Revised January 9, 2006
Accepted after revision February 1, 2006

Human, Environmental & Exercise [250]

MYOTENDINOUS PLASTICITY TO AGEING AND RESISTANCE EXERCISE

Neil D Reeves 1*, Marco V Narici 1, Constantinos N Maganaris 1

1 Manchester Metropolitan University

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: n.reeves{at}mmu.ac.uk.


  Abstract
The age-related loss of muscle mass known as sarcopenia is one of the main determinants of frailty in old age. Molecular, cellular, nutritional and hormonal mechanisms are at the basis of sarcopenia and are responsible for a progressive deterioration in skeletal muscle size and function. Both at single fibre and at whole-muscle level, the loss of force exceeds that predicted by the decrease in muscle size. For single fibres, the loss of intrinsic force is mostly due to a loss in myofibrillar protein content. For whole muscle, in addition to changes in neural drive, alterations in muscle architecture and in tendon mechanical properties, exemplified by a reduction in tendon stiffness, have recently been shown to contribute to this phenomenon. Resistance training can however cause substantial gains in muscle mass and strength and provides a protective effect against several of the cellular and molecular changes associated with muscle wasting and weakness. In old age, not only muscles, but also tendons are highly responsive to training, as an increase in tendon stiffness has been observed after a period of increased loading. Many of the myotendinous factors characterizing ageing can be at least partly reversed by resistance training.

Key Words: Ageing, Exercise, Muscle




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
C. C. Carroll, J. M. Dickinson, J. M. Haus, G. A. Lee, C. J. Hollon, P. Aagaard, S. P. Magnusson, and T. A. Trappe
Influence of aging on the in vivo properties of human patellar tendon
J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2008; 105(6): 1907 - 1915.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
H. B. Olafsdottir, V. M. Zatsiorsky, and M. L. Latash
The effects of strength training on finger strength and hand dexterity in healthy elderly individuals
J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2008; 105(4): 1166 - 1178.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ThoraxHome page
M. C Steiner
Sarcopaenia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Thorax, February 1, 2007; 62(2): 101 - 103.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Copyright © 2006 by the The Physiological Society.