HIGHLIGHTS
Older men are stronger than older women.
Higher torque variability in older men.
Adaptation to the isokinetics evaluation.
Different muscles need different numbers of sets.
Different muscles need different numbers of trials.
Abstract
Context
In the elderly, weak lower limb muscles impair functional tasks' performance.
Objective
To evaluate the healthy elderly's ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion maximum torque and its variability in two sets of 5 RM isokinetics evaluation.
Method
50 women (68.0 ± 4.6 years old) and 50 men (72.7 ± 8.5 years old) did two sets of ankle plantar flexor and dorsiflexor isokinetic tests at 30°/s. Peak torque, total work, and coefficient of variation were analyzed.
Results
Men did the strongest plantarflexion torque (p < 0.05) and dorsiflexion torque (p < 0.05); their highest peak torque occurred at set 2 (p < 0.05), while the largest plantarflexion torque variability (p < 0.05), dorsiflexion torque variability (p < 0.05), and the largest plantarflexion torque variability occurred at set 1 (p < 0.05). Men did the highest plantarflexion and dorsiflexion total work (p < 0.05) at set 2 (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Older men are stronger than older women. The torque variability, in men, was higher during the first set, suggesting an adaptation to the isokinetics evaluation. Clinicians and researchers should consider that different muscles might need different numbers of sets and trials to measure their maximal muscle strength.
Keywords
Isokinetic; Muscle Strength; Ankle; Sex; Aged
Thumbnail
