Anaerobic power of the arms and legs of young and older men

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the anaerobic exerc ise performance of young and older men. Eight healthy, active older (68.5 /- 2.4 years old, mean I S.D.) and eight healthy, active young (30.6 +/- 4. 5 years old) subjects were assessed for peak and mean power output (PP and MP, respectively) of the legs and arms, during 30 s Wingate tests. PP durin g leg exercise was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the young (14.6 +/- 1 .6 W kg(-1)) compared with the older (10.7 +/- 1.0 W kg(-1)) group. MP of t he legs was also greater in the young subjects (10.7 +/- 0.7 vs. 7.4 +/- 0. 9 W kg(-1)). These differences in PP and MP remained significant when expre ssed relative to lean leg volume. PP during arm cranking was significantly greater in the young subjects (8.9 +/- 0.7 vs. 7.5 +/- 0.6 W kg(-1)) as was MP (6.4 +/- 0.7 vs. 5.0 +/- 0.7 W kg(-1)). Post-exercise blood lactate con centration in the older group (7.0 +/- 1.6 mmol l(-1)) was less (P < 0.05) than in the young group (10.6 +/- 2.0 mmol l(-1)), for leg work only. The s ignificant loss of anaerobic power in the older group could not be explaine d by a difference in muscle mass. Power output was also lower in the arms, but to a lesser extent. The results of this study suggest that a reduction in the ability to perform high intensity exercise may be an inevitable cons equence of ageing, The extent, however, of this decline varies with differe nt muscle groups.