Shorter gastrocnemius fascicle lengths in older adults associate with worse capacity to enhance push-off intensity in walking.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reduced push-off intensity during walking is thought to play an important role in age-related mobility impairment. We posit that an age-related shift toward shorter plantarflexor operating lengths during walking functionally limits force generation, and thereby the ability of those muscles to respond to increased propulsive demands during walking.

Research question

To determine whether gastrocnemius muscle fascicle lengths during normal walking: (1) are shorter in older than young adults, and (2) correlate with one's capacity to increase the propulsive demands of walking to their maximum.

Methods

We used in vivo cine B-mode ultrasound to measure gastrocnemius fascicle lengths in 9 older and 9 young adults walking at their preferred speed, their maximum spee

SUBMITTER: Conway KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7479307 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature