Abstract
There is increasing appreciation of the role of rate of torque development (RTD) in physical function of older adults (OAs). This study compared various RTD strategies and electromyography (EMG) in the knee extensors and focused on discriminating groups with potential limitations in voluntary activation (VA) and associations of different RTD indices with functional tests that may be affected by VA in OAs. Neuromuscular function was assessed in 20 younger adults (YAs, 22.0 ± 1.7 years) and 50 OAs (74.4 ± 7.0 years). Isometric ballistic and peak torque during maximal voluntary contractions (pkTMVC), doublet stimulation and surface EMG were assessed and used to calculate VA during pkTMVC and RTD and rate of EMG rise during ballistic contractions. Select mobility tests (e.g., gait speed, 5× chair rise) were also assessed in the OAs. Voluntary RTD and RTD normalized to pkTMVC, doublet torque, and peak doublet RTD were compared. Rate of EMG rise and voluntary RTD normalized to pkTMVC did not differ between OAs and YAs, nor were they associated with functional test scores. Voluntary RTD indices normalized to stimulated torque parameters were significantly associated with VA (r = 0.319–0.459), and both indices were significantly lower in OAs vs YAs (all p < 0.020). These RTD indices showed significant association with the majority of mobility tests, but there was no clear advantage among them. Thus, voluntary RTD normalized to pkTMVC was ill-suited for use in OAs, while results suggests that voluntary RTD normalized to stimulated torque parameters may be useful for identifying central mechanisms of RTD impairment in OAs.
Clinical trial registration number NCT02505529; date of registration 07/22/2015.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the authors, but restrictions apply to the availability of these data. Data are, however, available from the authors upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- 5xCR:
-
5 Times chair rise
- 6MW:
-
Six-minute walk
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- drRTD:
-
Doublet rate normalized rate of torque development; vRTD/pkRTDdoublet
- dtRTD:
-
Doublet torque normalized rate of torque development; vRTD/pkTdoublet
- EMG:
-
Electromyography/electromyographic
- EMGREF :
-
Reference electromyographic signal
- FSST:
-
Four square step test
- OA:
-
Older adult
- pkRTDdoublet :
-
Peak rate of torque development during doublet
- pkTdoublet :
-
Peak torque during doublet
- pkTMVC :
-
Peak torque during maximal voluntary contraction
- RMS:
-
Root mean square
- rrEMG:
-
Rate of EMG rise
- rRTD:
-
Relative rate of torque development; vRTD/pkTMVC
- SPPB:
-
Short physical performance battery
- VA:
-
Voluntary activation
- vRTD:
-
Voluntary rate of torque development
- YA:
-
Young adult
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Funding
This study was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) award R01AG044424 and R01AG067758 (to BC Clark), and American Heart Association award 19PRE34380496 (to D Tavoian).
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All authors have read and approved the final version of this manuscript. Additional roles are as follows: DT—contributed to the conception and design of the project, collected and analyzed data, wrote the manuscript. BCC—secured funding for the project, contributed to the conception and design of the project, collected and analyzed data and reviewed all drafts of the manuscript. LAC—collected and analyzed data and reviewed the drafts of the manuscript. NPW—collected and analyzed data and reviewed the drafts of the manuscript. DWR—contributed to the conception and design of the project, analyzed and interpreted the data, wrote the manuscript and reviewed all drafts.
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In the past 5-years, Brian Clark received research funding from the NIH, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., RTI Health Solutions, Biophytis, NMD Pharma, Myolex Inc, and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations and consulting fees from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Laboratories, and the Gerson Lehrman Group. Additionally, Brian Clark is co-founder with equity, and serves as the Chief of Aging Research, of OsteoDx, Inc. In the past 5 years, Nathan Wages has received funding from the NIH (F32AG069358). In the past 5 years, David Russ received research funding from the NIH and research funding from Abbott Nutrition. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
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This study was approved by the Ohio University Institutional Review Board and was performed in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration.
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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.
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Tavoian, D., Clark, B.C., Clark, L.A. et al. Comparison of strategies for assessment of rate of torque development in older and younger adults. Eur J Appl Physiol 124, 551–560 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05299-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05299-w