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Hirono T, Takeda R, Nishikawa T, Okudaira M, Kunugi S, Yoshiko A, Ueda S, Yoshimura A, Watanabe K. Motor unit firing patterns in older adults with low skeletal muscle mass. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 116:105151. [PMID: 37544147 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Muscular dysfunctions involving a decline in muscle strength are often induced by loss of muscle mass in older adults. Understanding neural activation in older adults in addition to muscular characteristics may be important to prevent such age-related dysfunctions. This study aimed to investigate the difference in motor unit firing patterns between community-dwelling older individuals with normal and low skeletal muscle mass. Sixty-six older adults (62-90 years) performed muscle strength and function tests. On conducting high-density surface electromyography of the vastus lateralis, individual motor unit firing properties were assessed. Individual motor units were divided into three different recruitment threshold groups and their firing rates were compared. The skeletal muscle quantity and quality were assessed using bioimpedance methods and ultrasound images. They were divided into two groups according to sarcopenia criteria: a normal group (n = 39) and presarcopenia group with low skeletal muscle mass but normal physical functions (n = 21). Skeletal muscle mass and muscle thickness were greater and echo intensity was lower in the normal group than presarcopenia group. Motor units in normal older adults fired at different rates with a hierarchy depending on their recruitment threshold, observed as a normal phenomenon. However, motor units in the presarcopenia group fired without showing the hierarchical pattern. The results suggest that older adults with low skeletal muscle mass exhibited an abnormal neural input pattern, in addition to declines in muscle quantity and quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan; Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Ryosuke Takeda
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Taichi Nishikawa
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masamichi Okudaira
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan; Faculty of Education, Iwate University, Iwate, Japan
| | - Shun Kunugi
- Center for General Education, Aichi Institute of Technology, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akito Yoshiko
- Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Saeko Ueda
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan; Department of Human Nutrition, School of Life Studies, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akane Yoshimura
- Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan
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Paris MT, McNeil CJ, Power GA, Rice CL, Dalton BH. Age-related performance fatigability: a comprehensive review of dynamic tasks. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2022; 133:850-866. [PMID: 35952347 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00319.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult ageing is associated with a myriad of changes within the neuromuscular system, leading to reductions in contractile function of old adults. One of the consequences of these age-related neuromuscular adaptations is altered performance fatigability, which can limit the ability of old adults to perform activities of daily living. Whereas age-related fatigability of isometric tasks has been well characterized, considerably less is known about fatigability of old adults during dynamic tasks involving movement about a joint, which provides a more functionally relevant task compared to static contractions. This review provides a comprehensive summary of age-related fatigability in dynamic contractions, where the importance of task specificity is highlighted with a brief discussion of the potential mechanisms responsible for differences in fatigability between young and old adults. The angular velocity of the task is critical for evaluating age-related fatigability, as tasks which constrain angular velocity (i.e., isokinetic) produce equivocal age-related differences in fatigability, whereas tasks involving unconstrained velocity (i.e., isotonic-like) consistently induce greater fatigability of old compared to young adults. These unconstrained velocity tasks, that are more closely associated with natural movements, offer an excellent model to uncover the underlying age-related mechanisms of increased fatigability. Future work evaluating the mechanisms of increased age-related fatigability of dynamic tasks should be evaluated using task-specific contractions (i.e., dynamic), particularly for assessment of spinal and supra-spinal components. Advancing our understanding of age-related fatigability is likely to yield novel insights and approaches for improving mobility limitations in old adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Paris
- School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Chris J McNeil
- School of Health and Exercise Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Geoffrey A Power
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Charles L Rice
- School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Brian H Dalton
- School of Health and Exercise Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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Orssatto LBR, Borg DN, Pendrith L, Blazevich AJ, Shield AJ, Trajano GS. DO MOTONEURON DISCHARGE RATES SLOW WITH AGING? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. Mech Ageing Dev 2022; 203:111647. [PMID: 35218849 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2022.111647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Nervous system maladaptation is linked to the loss of maximal strength and motor control with aging. Motor unit discharge rates are a critical determinant of force production; thus, lower discharge rates could be a mechanism underpinning maximal strength and motor control losses during aging. This meta-analysis summarized the findings of studies comparing motor unit discharge rates between young and older adults, and examined the effects of the selected muscle and contraction intensity on the magnitude of discharge rates difference between these two groups. Estimates from 29 studies, across a range of muscles and contraction intensities, were combined in a multilevel meta-analysis, to investigate whether discharge rates differed between young and older adults. Motor unit discharge rates were higher in younger than older adults, with a pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.66 (95%CI= 0.29-1.04). Contraction intensity had a significant effect on the pooled SMD, with a 1% increase in intensity associated with a 0.009 (95%CI= 0.003-0.015) change in the pooled SMD. These findings suggest that reductions in motor unit discharge rates, especially at higher contraction intensities, may be an important mechanism underpinning age-related losses in maximal force production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas B R Orssatto
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia.
| | - David N Borg
- Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, The Hopkins Centre, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Linda Pendrith
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Anthony J Blazevich
- Centre for Human Performance, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
| | - Anthony J Shield
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Gabriel S Trajano
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
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