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Pop Quiz! How Do Your Muscles Wear Your Years?

In the last 100 years, major gains have been made in the life expectancy of adults in the United States. Today, life expectancy is 78.5 years for women, compared to 48 years at the turn of the last century. Life expectancy is 71.8 years for men. These numbers are still on the rise.

The "graying of America" has led to research on aging and its effects on the body. One area of particular interest is the muscular system. Are age-related changes in the muscles inevitable, or can these be prevented? Researchers have studied the effects of aging on the muscles. Now they are looking for ways to combat these changes.

How well do you know the effects of aging on your muscles? Take the following quiz.

True or false? Aging affects muscle power and muscle endurance at the same rate.

False. Aging affects muscle power more quickly. Muscle power refers to the kind of short bursts used for quick movements or to lift objects. Endurance is measured in how long the muscles can work.

Research shows that muscle strength decreases faster than endurance. The muscles' capacity to perform activities that require power and endurance is still present throughout adulthood. But only those adults who train and remain in good health can keep up both power and endurance.

True or false? Muscles lose fibers with age whether or not they are exercised.

Trick question! The jury is still out on this one. Many studies show a loss of fast-twitch muscle fibers with aging. Other studies do not agree.

True or false? The effects of aging on muscles are the same for men and women.

True. The patterns of change are the same for both sexes. Lifting or activities requiring power show a pattern of sharp decline after age 30. The fastest loss of muscle power occurs during the fourth decade (31-40 years). There is a gradual, slow loss of power in adults as they continue to age.

For activities requiring muscle endurance, there is a rapid rise in muscle performance until around age 25, then a gradual decline until age 55. After age 55, there is a faster rate of decline in muscle function.

True or false? Adults over 30 can offset loss in muscle strength with exercises.

True. Some form of regular resistance training can offset age-related loss of muscle strength. Inactivity is the main reason people lose muscle tissue. Many studies show major improvements in muscle function with proper conditioning.

References: Marc T. Galloway, MD, et al. Effect of Aging on Male and Female Master Athletes' Performance in Strength Versus Endurance Activities. In The American Journal of Orthopedics. February 2002. Vol. 31. No. 2. Pp. 93-98.

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