AGE-ASSOCIATED LOSS OF POWER AND STRENGTH IN THE UPPER EXTREMITIES INWOMEN AND MEN

Cross-sectional and longitudinal age-associated reductions in power an d isometric strength are described for the upper extremities. Over a 2 5-year period repeated measures were taken approximately every 2 years from men and women in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA ). The longitudinal measures covered an average 9.6 years, range 1-25 years for men and an average 4.6 years, range 1-8 years for women. Str ength and power declined beginning by age 40 ill both women and men. T hereafter, power declined about 10% more than strength in men, while I lo significant differences were found in women. Age had a statisticall y independent influence on strength and power measures after adjusting for gender, height, weight, calorie expenditure, and muscle mass. Twe nty-five-year longitudinal analyses ill men confirmed the declines obs erved cross-sectionally while Ilo charges were observed in women over the 4-5 years of longitudinal data available. Further longitudinal stu dies are needed to understand the relationships between strength and p ower losses whit age in women. The differences between power and stren gth changes with age in men argue for the importance of factors other than strength affecting power.