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Strength training-induced responses in older adults: attenuation of descending neural drive with age

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Abstract

Although reductions in resting H-reflex responses and maximal firing frequency suggest that reduced efferent drive may limit muscle strength in elderly, there are currently no reports of V-wave measurements in elderly, reflecting the magnitude of efferent output to the muscle during maximal contraction. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether potential age-related neural deficiencies can be restored by resistance training. We assessed evoked reflex recordings in the triceps surae muscles during rest and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), rate of force development (RFD), and muscle mass in seven elderly (74 ± 6 years) males before and after 8 weeks of heavy resistance training, contrasted by seven young (24 ± 4 years) male controls. At baseline, m. soleus (SOL) V/M ratio (0.124 ± 0.082 vs. 0.465 ± 0.197, p < 0.05) and H/M ratio (0.379 ± 0.044 vs. 0.486 ± 0.101 p = 0.07) were attenuated in elderly compared to young. Also, SOL H-reflex latency (33.29 ± 2.41 vs. 30.29 ± 0.67 ms, p < 0.05) was longer in elderly. The reduced neural drive was, despite similar leg muscle mass (10.7 ± 1.2 vs. 11.5 ± 1.4 kg), mirrored by lower MVC (158 ± 48 vs. 240 ± 54 Nm, p < 0.05) and RFD (294 ± 126 vs. 533 ± 123 Nm s−1, p < 0.05) in elderly. In response to training SOL V/M ratio (0.184 ± 0.092, p < 0.05) increased in the elderly, yet only to a level ∼40 % of the young. This was accompanied by increased MVC (190 ± 70 Nm, p < 0.05) and RFD (401 ± 147 Nm⋅s−1, p < 0.05) to levels of ∼80 % and ∼75 % of the young. H/M ratio remained unchanged. These findings suggest that changes in supraspinal activation play a significant role in the age-related changes in muscle strength. Furthermore, this motor system impairment can to some extent be improved by heavy resistance training.

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Abbreviations

1RM:

One repetition maximum

GL:

Musculus gastrocnemius lateralis

GM:

Musculus gastrocnemius medialis

Hmax :

Maximal H-reflex amplitude

Mmax :

Maximal M-wave amplitude obtained during rest

Msup :

Maximal M-wave amplitude obtained during maximal voluntary contraction

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

RFD:

Rate of force development

TA:

Musculus tibialis anterior

Vmax :

Maximal V-wave amplitude

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the senior citizens who volunteered to participate in this study for their time and efforts.

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper. The study was funded by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Prinsesse Kristinas gt. 3, 7006, Trondheim, Norway

    Runar Unhjem, Raymond Lundestad & Eivind Wang

  2. Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Marius Steiro Fimland

  3. Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Mats Peder Mosti

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  1. Runar Unhjem
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  2. Raymond Lundestad
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  5. Eivind Wang
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Correspondence to Runar Unhjem.

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Unhjem, R., Lundestad, R., Fimland, M.S. et al. Strength training-induced responses in older adults: attenuation of descending neural drive with age. AGE 37, 47 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-015-9784-y

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