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Cross-education: effects of age on rapid and maximal voluntary contractile characteristics in males

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of age on the cross-education of rapid and maximal contractile properties for the knee extensors.

Methods

Young (n = 10; age = 21.1 ± 1.7 years) and older (n = 10; age = 65.3 ± 8.3 years) males performed unilateral isokinetic resistance training (RT) of the knee extensors for 4 weeks. Maximal voluntary isokinetic (45° s−1 and 300° s−1) and isometric testing was conducted for the trained and untrained leg before and after RT. Peak torque (PT) and acceleration were obtained from isokinetic testing as well as torque at 30 ms (TQ30) and 100 ms (TQ100) from the 45° s−1 contraction. PT and rate of torque development were recorded from the isometric contractions.

Results

Independent of age, isometric PT (10.1%; p = 0.006) as well as PT and acceleration at 300° s−1 (6.7%; p = 0.008 and 4.0%; p = 0.016, respectively) increased in the untrained leg. At 45° s−1, acceleration was increased (3.6%; p = 0.021), but PT remained unchanged (p = 0.227). TQ100 increased similarly between groups (4.5%; p = 0.014), but TQ30 increased only in the older group (9.5%; p = 0.022).

Conclusions

Cross-education of rapid and maximal contractile parameters can be achieved early during unilateral RT independent of age. These findings indicate the potential for particular unilateral RT protocols to be used for older adults in rehabilitative settings to offset disuse-related reductions in contractile function, which are most dramatic in this population.

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Abbreviations

ACC45 :

Acceleration at 45° s−1

ACC300 :

Acceleration at 300° s−1

CV:

Coefficient of variation

ICC:

Intraclass correlation coefficient

MVIC:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction

OM:

Older males

PT45 :

Peak torque at 45° s−1

PT300 :

Peak torque at 300° s−1

RFD:

Rate of force development

RT:

Resistance training

RTD:

Rate of torque development

SEM:

Standard error of the measurement

TQ30 :

Torque at 30 ms

TQ100 :

Torque at 100 ms

YM:

Young males

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mr. Pope for his assistance with some aspects of the data collection.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Kennesaw State University, 520 Parliament Garden Way NW, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA

    Garrett M. Hester, Alex A. Olmos, Alyssa R. Bailly & Phuong L. Ha

  2. Applied Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory, Oklahoma State University, 192 CRC, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Mitchel A. Magrini, Ryan J. Colquhoun, Alejandra Barrera-Curiel, Carlos A. Estrada & Jason M. DeFreitas

Authors
  1. Garrett M. Hester
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  2. Mitchel A. Magrini
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  3. Ryan J. Colquhoun
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  4. Alejandra Barrera-Curiel
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  5. Carlos A. Estrada
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  6. Alex A. Olmos
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  7. Alyssa R. Bailly
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Contributions

GH and JD conceived and designed the research. GH, MM, RC, AB-C, CE collected the data. AO, AB, PH processed the data and assisted with analysis. GH conducted statistical analysis and prepared the manuscript. JD reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason M. DeFreitas.

Additional information

Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Hester, G.M., Magrini, M.A., Colquhoun, R.J. et al. Cross-education: effects of age on rapid and maximal voluntary contractile characteristics in males. Eur J Appl Physiol 119, 1313–1322 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04123-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04123-8

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