Jumping height in former elite athletes

To evaluate lower-limb explosive strength with respect Co lifetime athletic activity, we measured vertical jumping height on a contact mat in former m ale runners (n = 28), soccer players(n = 31),weightlifters(n = 29) and shoo ters (n = 29) (age range 45-68 years). There were no statistically signific ant age-adjusted sport-group differences in jumping height, but differences by sport were evident among the subgroup of athletes without hip or knee o steoarthritis (n = 65) (P < 0.05). Thus, sports that increased jumping heig ht also predisposed to lower-limb osteoarthritis. After adjustment for age and sport, the subjects without osteoarthritis jumped higher than those wit h osteoarthritis (n = 33) (P < 0.01). In a multiple linear regression analy sis, age, reported hip and knee disability, and knee pain reduced jumping h eight. Hours spent in team-training during the past 12 months and the hours spent during their lifetime in power training were associated with improve d vertical jumping height and together explained 41% of the difference amon g the subjects. The ability to jump even among athletes with hip or knee os teoarthritis would suggest that former elite athletes possess advanced lowe r limb muscle function.