Abstract
AbstractMasters athletes are typically older than 35 years of age and systematically train for, and compete in, organized forms of sport specifically designed for older adults. They are motivated to participate in masters sport for a wide variety of reasons. Age-related declines in endurance performance are observed across the endurance sports of running, orienteering, rowing, and swimming. These declines are curvilinear from age 35 years until approximately age 60–70 years and exponential thereafter. The decline in endurance performance appears primarily due to an age-related decrease in VO2maxsecondary to an age-related decrease in HRmaxand possible age-related declines in stroke volume and arteriovenous oxygen difference. While performance velocity at lactate threshold decreases with age in masters endurance athletes, it appears to increase relative to VO2maxwhile exercise economy is maintained. There also appears an age-related decrease in active muscle mass, type II muscle fiber size, and blood volume that contribute to decreased endurance performance. However, research suggests that maintenance of training intensity and volume into older age may mediate the rate of age-related decline in VO2max, stroke volume, arteriovenous oxygen difference, blood volume, and muscle mass in masters endurance athletes.
Highlights
Masters athletes are individuals who systematically train for, and compete in, organized forms of competitive sport designed for older adults
– maximal O2 consumption (VO2max) – maximal heart rate – stroke volume – lactate threshold – economy of movement – muscle fiber type, morphology and capillarization – aerobic enzyme activity. Apart from these above factors, previous research suggests that both muscle mass [47, 73] and blood volume [23, 25, 89] may affect endurance performance in masters athletes
The above age-related declines in endurance performance have been suggested to be due to decreased training volumes and intensities as a result of increased work and family commitments [87, 88, 103], behavioral factors such as reduced motivation to train [64, 94], few masters athletes having coaches [87], and masters athletes spending less overall time in training than international caliber younger athletes, even though the percentage time spent in the various types of training appears similar [87, 103]
Summary
Masters athletes are individuals who systematically train for, and compete in, organized forms of competitive sport designed for older adults. Previous research from masters swimming [46, 97], athletes competing at multisport events [67, 84], or older people involved in regular exercise and sport [59] has shown that masters athletes participate for enjoyment, competition, physical fitness, health benefits, social, travel, stress relief, personal challenge, and skill development reasons. – maximal O2 consumption (VO2max) – maximal heart rate – stroke volume – lactate threshold – economy of movement – muscle fiber type, morphology and capillarization – aerobic enzyme activity Apart from these above factors, previous research suggests that both muscle mass [47, 73] and blood volume [23, 25, 89] may affect endurance performance in masters athletes. Age-related changes in VO2max, lactate threshold and economy in masters endurance athletes; Performance Velocity
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