Single- versus double-leg cycling: Small muscle mass exercise improves exercise capacity to a greater extent in older compared with younger population
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
Volume
32
Issue
3
First Page
408
Last Page
415
PubMed ID
38350440
Publisher
Human Kinetics
School
Centre for Human Performance / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
66004
Abstract
Manipulating the amount of muscle mass engaged during exercise can noninvasively inform the contribution of central cardiovascular and peripheral vascular-oxidative functions to endurance performance. To better understand the factors contributing to exercise limitation in older and younger individuals, exercise performance was assessed during single-leg and double-leg cycling. 16 older (67 ± 5 years) and 14 younger (35 ± 5 years) individuals performed a maximal exercise using singleleg and double-leg cycling. The ratio of single-leg to double-leg cycling power (RatioPower SL/DL) was compared between age groups. The association between fitness (peak oxygen consumption, peak power output, and physical activity levels) and RatioPower SL/DL was explored. The RatioPower SL/DL was greater in older compared with younger individuals (1.14 ± 0.11 vs. 1.06 ± 0.08, p = .041). The RatioPower SL/DL was correlated with peak oxygen consumption (r = .886, p < .001), peak power output relative to body mass (r = .854, p < .001), and levels of physical activity (r = .728, p = .003) in the younger but not older subgroup. Reducing the amount of muscle mass engaged during exercise improved exercise capacity to a greater extent in older versus younger population and may reflect a greater reduction in central cardiovascular function compared with peripheral vascularoxidative function with aging.
DOI
10.1123/japa.2023-0234
Access Rights
Subscription content
Comments
Haddad, T., Spence, A. L., Peiffer, J. J., Blain, G. M., Brisswalter, J., & Abbiss, C. R. (2024). Single-Versus Double-Leg Cycling: Small Muscle Mass Exercise Improves Exercise Capacity to a Greater Extent in Older Compared With Younger Population. Journal of aging and physical activity, 32 (3) 408 -415 https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2023-0234