AGE-RELATED DECLINE IN PERFORMANCE OF MASTERS ATHLETES IS NOT MODALITY SPECIFIC

Abstract

The age-related decline in athletic performance can be largely attributed to the loss of skeletal muscle mass observed during the aging process. Recently, when compared with the upper limbs, the decline in muscle mass was found to occur more rapidly in the lower limbs. We tested the hypothesis that the age-related performance decline would be greater in lower extremity biased exercise (bicycling and running) compared with an exercise involving all four limbs (swimming). Finish times of bike, run, and swim for 78 triathletes [(58 males; 20–61 yrs.; 11.8 ± 0.6% fat; 24.7 ± 0.3 BMI), and (20 females; 25–51 yrs.; 20.6 ± 0.8% fat; 22.3 ± 0.3 BMI)] were measured during a one-half Ironman distance triathlon. Based upon the range of finish times for bike (males 149.4–217.6 min.; females 168.7–216.8 min.), run (males 79.0–160.4 min.; females 97.7–179.6 min.), and swin (males 33.7–69.0 min.; females 26.7–51.3 min.) the subjects clearly represented a broad range of performance abilities. There were no differences in the rate of performance decline for any of the three modalities between genders, therefore the data were pooled for all further analyses. In order to determine if an aging effect on performance was present, subjects were divided into four groups based upon decades (i.e., 20's, 30's, 40's, & 50+). Finish times of the bike for both the 20's and 30's were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the 50+. The finish time of the swim for the 20's was lower (p < 0.05) than the other three groups, and the 30's was lower (p < 0.05) than the 40's. Performances for the bike, run, and swim between the ages of 20 and 60 yrs. decreased at a rate of 4.2%, 5.4%, and 6.9%, respectively. These values are comparable to the 6–9%, decline from age 30 to 50 reported in a 10-km running race and the marathon. Multiple regression analysis of the slopes of the age-related increase in finish time revealed no differences between any of the three modalities, nor between the four age groups within each modality. Therefore, the hypothesis is not supported and it appears the age-related decline in performance of triathletes occurs at a universal rate for bicycling, running, and swimming. Additionally, the rate of this decline appears to be linear from the ages of 20–60. Supported by a Seed Grant from The Ohio State University.