The intent of this investigation was to examine age and gender differences in neuromuscular adaptations following 12 wks of progressive resistance training(PRT). 39 healthy, untrained individuals were divided into four groups: older men((OM); 70±1.67; n=9), older women((OW); 73.75±1.76;n=8), young men((YM); 25.9±2; n=6) and young women((YW);22.2±1.2; n=6). Subjects participated in a bi-lateral knee extensor PRT consisting of 2 sets of 10 repetitions and 1 set to volitional failure at 80% of their onerepetition maximum(1RM), 3 days per week. Prior to and after completion of the PRT, subjects' right thigh muscles were evaluated for cross-sectional area (CSA) via computed tomography, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC), specific tension((ST);MVC/CSA), maximal neuromuscular drive(IEMG), and 1RM. Subcutaneous needle biopsies were also taken from the subjects' right vastus lateralis pre and post PRT. CSA increased (time, P<0.05) in all four groups following the PRT (4.35%+0.94 to 7.31%+3.87). Excluding OW, each group displayed an improvement (time, P<0.05) in MVC (OM 28.7%+5.06, YM 17.4%+5.8, and YW 17.8%±10.3). OM and YM demonstrated increases (time, P<0.05) in ST after completion of the PRT, 21.67%+4.88 and 12.5%+5.1, respectively. These two groups also improved (timeXgender, P<0.05) over their gender counterparts for this variable. IEMG increased (time, P<0.05) in OM and YM (37.8%+12.3 and 43.26+12.54, respectively) and both groups also showed improvements (timeXgender, P<0.05) over their gender counterparts. 1RM increased (time, P<0.05) in all groups (34.9%+7.9 to 57.3%+8). OW showed an increase (time, P<0.05) in the CSA of the MHC type Ha fibers. No other changes in single fiber CSA occurred. While all groups displayed increases in CSA and strength, ST and IEMG data indicate that neuromuscular drive may influence strength increases seen with resistance training to a greater extent in males than females, regardless of age. / School of Physical Education
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/186996 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Taylor, Bradley Lyle |
| Contributors | Rushton, Jerry L. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vii, 159 leaves : facsims. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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