Sw. Trappe et al., CALF MUSCLE STRENGTH IN FORMER ELITE DISTANCE RUNNERS, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 6(4), 1996, pp. 205-210
The purpose of this investigation was to examine calf muscle strength
and cross-sectional area in 29 middle-aged men (current mean=48.4+/-3.
1 years) who had significant differences in their physical activity le
vels. These men were initially evaluated to determine the physiologica
l requirements for successful distance running in the late 1960s at a
time when they were all considered elite distance runners. Based on th
eir training regimens in the interim between testing, subjects were de
scribed as highly trained (HI; n=10), fitness trained (FIT; n=12), or
untrained (UT; n=7). In addition, an aged-matched sedentary group (CON
; n=7) was tested. Each subject was evaluated for VO2max, plantar flex
ion calf muscle strength and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the lower l
eg (gastrocnemius and soleus). Muscle CSA was determined by computed t
omography, whereas calf strength measurements were made using a specia
lly designed leg restraint system and an isokinetic dynamometer. There
were no significant differences in plantar flexion strength (at 60 an
d 180 degrees/s) or CSA of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles among
the groups. Calf muscle strength per CSA was also similar at both test
velocities for all groups. These data demonstrate that middle-aged di
stance runners who have continued to run at a relatively high level fo
r 20-25 years have similar calf muscle CSA and strength compared with
aged-matched males who run significantly less or not at all.