Pedagogìka, Psihologìâ ta Mediko-bìologìčnì Problemi Fìzičnogo Vihovannâ ì Sportu (Oct 2011)
Age and sex differences in leg strength in stepping up movements
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test how much aging changes affect the human motor system with respect to relative leg strength. 15 elderly (7 females, 8 males, av. age 67.1 years) and 28 young (13 females, 15 males, av. age 22.5 years) persons participated in the study. The measurement station consisted of a step-box and four tactile leg sensors. Two of them were placed on a platform on the floor and the other two on a 30.5 cm (12 inches) high step-box. Subjects walked up and down irregularly and as quickly as possible on the step-box with the right and the left leg in response to two lights. The leg strength was measured in a series of 20 movements indirectly by the time of straightening the leg put on the step-box. We have found that the speed of stepping up movements (explosive and dynamic strength of leg straightness) was higher in the young than elderly subjects for the left and right leg by 21.3 % and 21.8% respectively. Elderly female subjects walked up slower than elderly male subjects only with the left leg by 10.3% and by 24.7% more slowly than young female subjects. Elderly men were slower than young ones by 18.6 %. No statistically significant differences were found in the speed of stepping up movements between young female and male subjects for both legs.
