Abstract
BackgroundMuscle morphology, age and gender may be determinants of muscle strength in older adults. However, very few research studies have directly examined such correlation in the ageing spine. The aim of the study was to examine the correlation between lumbar extensor muscle strength, its muscle fibre angles, thoracolumbar curvature, age and gender in the older and younger adults.MethodsMuscle fibre angles of lumbar extensor muscles, thoracolumbar curvature and lumbar extensor muscle strength were examined in 26 young (mean age 27.9, SD 5.2) and 26 older (mean age 72.1, SD 5.9) participants. Pearson’s correlation was employed to determine the association among lumbar extensor muscle fibre angle, thoracolumbar curvature, age, gender and lumbar extensor muscle strength. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to identify significant determinants of lumbar extensor muscle strength.ResultsThe results demonstrated a significant correlation between lumbar extensor muscle strength, muscle fibre angle, age and gender. In the step wise regression analysis, both gender and age were identified as the most robust determinant for lumbar extensor muscle strength in older adults. However, gender was the only determinant of muscle strength in the young.ConclusionThese results suggest that the decline in the lumbar extensor muscle strength in older adults was more dependent on age when compared to younger adults.
Highlights
Muscle morphology, age and gender may be determinants of muscle strength in older adults
It is clinically important to examine the relationship between lumbar extensor muscle strength, lumbar extensor muscles fibre angles and thoracolumbar curvature since this relates to mechanisms of muscle force production and may help to explain how muscle function deteriorates with age in the spine
The relationship between lumbar extensor muscle strength and the thoracic kyphosis was low and non significant. These results indicate that lumbar extensor muscle strength and fibre angles decrease with age
Summary
Age and gender may be determinants of muscle strength in older adults. The aim of the study was to examine the correlation between lumbar extensor muscle strength, its muscle fibre angles, thoracolumbar curvature, age and gender in the older and younger adults. Trunk extensor muscle strength is greater in males and reported to decline more with ageing in males [4] Both age and gender have been found to be correlated with trunk extensor muscle strength in previous studies of different groups of participants [5,6]. It is clinically important to examine the relationship between lumbar extensor muscle strength, lumbar extensor muscles fibre angles and thoracolumbar curvature since this relates to mechanisms of muscle force production and may help to explain how muscle function deteriorates with age in the spine
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