Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Muscle Fatigue in Old Animals

Unique Aspects of Fatigue in Elderly Humans

  • Chapter
Fatigue

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 384))

Abstract

Muscle atrophy, weakness, injury, and fatigue are inevitable and immutable concomitants of old age. Atrophy results from a gradual process of fiber denervation with loss of some fibers and atrophy of others. Fast fibers show more denervation and atrophy than slow fibers. Some fast fibers are reinnervated by axonal sprouting from slow fibers resulting in remodeling of motor units. With aging, the decreases in strength and power are greater than expected from the loss in muscle mass. Contraction-induced injury is proposed as a mechanism of the fast fiber denervation. With atrophy and weakness, human beings show a dramatic decrease in endurance and increase in fatigability with aging, but strength and endurance training slows the process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Barclay CJ, Constable JK & Gibbs CL (1993). Energetics of fast-and slow-twitch muscles of the mouse. Journal of Physiology (London) 472, 61–80.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SV & Faulkner JA (1988). Contractile properties of skeletal muscles from young, adult, and aged mice. Journal of Physiology (London) 404, 71–82.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SV & Faulkner JA (1990). Contraction-induced injury: recovery of skeletal muscles in young and old mice. American Journal of Physiology 258 (Cell Physiology 27), C436–C442.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SV & Faulkner JA (1991). Maximum and sustained power of extensor digitorum longus muscles from young, adult and old mice. Journal of Gerontology: Biological Science 46, B28–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SV & Faulkner JA (1994a). Skeletal muscle weakness in old age: underlying mechanisms. Medical Science and Sports Exercises 26, 432–439.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SV & Faulkner JA (1994b). Isometric, shortening and lengthening contractions of muscle fiber segments from adult and old mice. American Journal of Physiology 267 (Cell Physiology 36), C507–C513.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown MC, Holland RL & Hopkins WG (1981). Motor nerve sprouting. Annual Reviews of Neuroscience 4, 17–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bruce SA, Newton D & Woledge RC (1989). Effect of age on voluntary force and cross-sectional area of human adductor pollicis muscle. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 74, 359–362.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burke RE, Levine DN, Zajak FE, Tsairis P & Engel WK (1973). Physiological types and histochemical profiles in motor units of the cat gastrocnemius. Journal of Physiology (London) 234, 723–748.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson BM & Faulkner JA (1995). Skeletal muscle regeneration and aging: the influence of innervation. Journal of Gerontology In press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desypris G & Parry DJ (1990). Relative efficacy of slow and fast-motoneurons to reinnervate mouse soleus muscle. American Journal of Physiology 258 (Cell Physiology 27), C62–C70.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edström L & Larsson L (1987). Effects of age on contractile and enzyme-histochemical properties of fast-and slow-twitch single motor units in the rat. Journal of Physiology (London) 392, 129–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enoka RM & Stuart DG (1992). Neurobiology of muscle fatigue. Journal of Applied Physiology 72, 1631–1648.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner JA & Brooks SV (1993). Fatigability of mouse muscles during constant length, shortening, and lengthening contractions: interactions between fiber types and duty cycles. In: Sargeant T, Kernell D (eds.) Neuromuscular Fatigue, pp 116-123. Amsterdam: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner JA, Brooks SV & Opiteck JA (1993). Injury to skeletal muscle fibers during contractions: conditions of occurrence and prevention. In: Binder-Macleod SA (ed.), Physical Therapy, Special Edition, pp 911-921. Alexandria, VA: American Physical Therapy Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner JA, Claflin DR & McCully KK (1986). Power output of fast and slow fibers from human skeletal muscles. In: Jones NL, McCartney N, McComas J, (eds.), Human Power Output, pp. 81–91. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner JA, Green HJ & White TP (1994). Skeletal muscle responses to acute and adaptations to chronic physical activity. In: Bouchard C, Shephard RJ, Stephens T (eds.), Physical Activity, Fitness & Health, pp. 343–357. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frontera WR, Meredith CN, O’Reilly KP, Knuttgen HG & Evans WJ (1988). Strength conditioning in older men: skeletal muscle hypertrophy and impaired function. Journal of Applied Physiology 64, 1038–1044.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grimby G & Saltin B (1983). The aging muscle. Clinical Physiology 3, 209–218.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson BD, Babcock MA, Suman OE & Dempsey JA (1993). Exercise-induced diaphragmatic fatigue in healthy humans. Journal of Physiology (London) 460, 385–405.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kadhiresan VA (1993). Functional Properties of Motor Units in Medial Gastrocnemius Muscles of Rats: Remodelling in Old Age. Ph.D. Dissertation, Univ. Microfilm Int.Cit. No. 9409723. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanda K & Hashizume K (1989). Changes in properties of the medial gastrocnemius motor units in aging. Journal of Neurophysiology 61, 737–746.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L & Karlsson J (1978). Isometric and dynamic endurance as a function of age and skeletal muscle characteristics. Acta Physiologica Scandanavica 104, 129–136.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L & Salviati G (1989). Effects of age on calcium transport activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum in fast-and slow-twitch rat muscle fibres. Journal of Physiology (London) 419, 253–264.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lexell J, Taylor CC & Sjostrom M (1988). What is the cause of the ageing atrophy? Total number, size and proportion of different fiber types studied in whole astus lateralis muscle from 15-to 83-year-old men. Journal of Neurological Science 84, 275–294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Makrides L, Heigenhauser GJ, McCartney N & Jones NL (1985). Maximal short term exercise capacity in healthy subjects aged 15–70 years. Clinical Science 69, 197–205.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCully KK, Fielding RA, Evans WJ, Leigh Jr, JS & Posner JD (1993). Relationships between in vivo and in vitro measurements of metabolism in young and old human calf muscles. Journal of Applied Physiology 75, 813–819.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meredith CN, Frontera WR, Fisher EC, Hughes VA, Herland JC, Edwards J & Evans J (1989). Peripheral effects of endurance training in young and old subjects. Journal of Applied Physiology 66, 2844–2849.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moore DH (1975). A study of age group track and field records to relate age and running speed. Nature 253, 264–265.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Overend TJ, Cunningham DA, Paterson DH & Smith WD (1992). Physiological responses of young and elderly men to prolonged exercise at critical power. European Journal of Applied Physiology 64, 187–193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pestronk A, Drachman DB & Griffin J (1980). Effects of aging on nerve sprouting and regeneration. Experimental Neurology 70, 64–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peter JB, Barnard RJ, Edgerton VR, Gillespie CA & Stemple KE (1972). Metabolic profiles of three fiber types of skeletal muscle in guinea pigs and rabbits. Biochemistry 14, 2627–2633.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips SK, Rook KM, Siddle NC & Woledge RC (1992). Muscle weakness in women occurs at an earlier age than in men, but strength is preserved by hormone replacement therapy. Clinical Science 84, 95–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenheimer JL (1990). Ultraterminal sprouting in innervated and partially denervated adult and aged rat muscle. Neuroscience 38, 763–770.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz R & Curnow C (1988). Peak performance and age among superathletes: track and field, swimming, baseball, tennis, and golf. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences 43, P 113–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandervoort AA, Hayes KC & Belanger AY (1986). Strength and endurance of skeletal muscle in the elderly. Physiotherapy Canada 38, 167–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zerba E, Komorowski TE & Faulkner J A (1990). Free radical injury to skeletal muscles of young, adult, and old mice. American Journal of Physiology 258 (Cell Physiology 27), C429–C435.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Gerontology and Bioengineering Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-2007, USA

    J. A. Faulkner & S. V. Brooks

Authors
  1. J. A. Faulkner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. V. Brooks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Simon C. Gandevia

  2. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Roger M. Enoka

  3. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Alan J. McComas

  4. The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Douglas G. Stuart  & Patricia A. Pierce  & 

  5. University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA

    Christine K. Thomas

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Faulkner, J.A., Brooks, S.V. (1995). Muscle Fatigue in Old Animals. In: Gandevia, S.C., Enoka, R.M., McComas, A.J., Stuart, D.G., Thomas, C.K., Pierce, P.A. (eds) Fatigue. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 384. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1016-5_36

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1016-5_36

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1018-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1016-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation