Influence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power on functional capacity in healthy older adults

Kenneth H. Mertz; Soren Reitelseder; Mikkel Jensen; Jonas Lindberg; Morten Hjulmand; Aide Schucany; Soren Binder Andersen; Rasmus L. Bechshoeft; Markus D. Jakobsen; Theresa Bieler; Nina Beyer; Jakob Lindberg Nielsen; Per Aagaard; Lars Holm

doi:10.1111/sms.13524

Influence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power on functional capacity in healthy older adults

Kenneth H. Mertz, Soren Reitelseder, Mikkel Jensen, Jonas Lindberg, Morten Hjulmand, Aide Schucany, Soren Binder Andersen, Rasmus L. Bechshoeft, Markus D. Jakobsen, Theresa Bieler, Nina Beyer, Jakob Lindberg Nielsen, Per Aagaard, Lars Holm

Torekov Group

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose Numerous daily tasks such as walking and rising from a chair involve bilateral lower limb movements. During such tasks, lower extremity function (LEF) may be compromised among older adults. LEF may be further impaired due to high degrees of between-limb asymmetry. The present study investigated the prevalence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power in a cohort of healthy older adults and examined the influence of between-limb asymmetry on LEF. Methods Two hundred and eight healthy older adults (mean age 70.2 +/- 3.9 years) were tested for LEF (400 m walking and 30-seconds chair stand). Furthermore, maximal isometric and dynamic knee extensor strength, leg extensor power, and lower limb lean tissue mass (LTM) were obtained unilaterally. Results Mean between-limb asymmetry in maximal muscle strength and power ranged between 10% and 13%, whereas LTM asymmetry was 3 +/- 2.3%. Asymmetry in dynamic knee extensor strength was larger for women compared with men (15.0 +/- 11.8% vs 11.1 +/- 9.5%; P = .005) Leg strength and power were positively correlated with LEF (r(2) = .43-.46, P < .001). The weakest leg was not a stronger predictor of LEF than the strongest leg. Between-limb asymmetry in LTM and isometric strength was negatively associated with LEF (LTM; r(2) = .12, P = .005, isometric peak torque; r(2) = 0.40, P = .03.) but dynamic strength and power were not. Conclusion The present study supports the notion that in order to improve or maintain LEF, healthy older adults should participate in training interventions that increase muscle strength and power, whereas the effects of reducing between-limb asymmetry in these parameters might be of less importance.

Original language	English
Journal	Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
ISSN	0905-7188
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13524
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2019

Keywords

asymmetry
lower extremity function
mobility
muscle power
muscle strength

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10.1111/sms.13524

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Mertz, K. H., Reitelseder, S., Jensen, M., Lindberg, J., Hjulmand, M., Schucany, A., Andersen, S. B., Bechshoeft, R. L., Jakobsen, M. D., Bieler, T., Beyer, N., Nielsen, J. L., Aagaard, P., & Holm, L. (2019). Influence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power on functional capacity in healthy older adults. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13524

Mertz, KH, Reitelseder, S, Jensen, M, Lindberg, J, Hjulmand, M, Schucany, A, Andersen, SB, Bechshoeft, RL, Jakobsen, MD, Bieler, T, Beyer, N, Nielsen, JL, Aagaard, P & Holm, L 2019, 'Influence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power on functional capacity in healthy older adults', Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13524

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title = "Influence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power on functional capacity in healthy older adults",

abstract = "Purpose Numerous daily tasks such as walking and rising from a chair involve bilateral lower limb movements. During such tasks, lower extremity function (LEF) may be compromised among older adults. LEF may be further impaired due to high degrees of between-limb asymmetry. The present study investigated the prevalence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power in a cohort of healthy older adults and examined the influence of between-limb asymmetry on LEF. Methods Two hundred and eight healthy older adults (mean age 70.2 +/- 3.9 years) were tested for LEF (400 m walking and 30-seconds chair stand). Furthermore, maximal isometric and dynamic knee extensor strength, leg extensor power, and lower limb lean tissue mass (LTM) were obtained unilaterally. Results Mean between-limb asymmetry in maximal muscle strength and power ranged between 10% and 13%, whereas LTM asymmetry was 3 +/- 2.3%. Asymmetry in dynamic knee extensor strength was larger for women compared with men (15.0 +/- 11.8% vs 11.1 +/- 9.5%; P = .005) Leg strength and power were positively correlated with LEF (r(2) = .43-.46, P < .001). The weakest leg was not a stronger predictor of LEF than the strongest leg. Between-limb asymmetry in LTM and isometric strength was negatively associated with LEF (LTM; r(2) = .12, P = .005, isometric peak torque; r(2) = 0.40, P = .03.) but dynamic strength and power were not. Conclusion The present study supports the notion that in order to improve or maintain LEF, healthy older adults should participate in training interventions that increase muscle strength and power, whereas the effects of reducing between-limb asymmetry in these parameters might be of less importance.",

keywords = "asymmetry, lower extremity function, mobility, muscle power, muscle strength",

author = "Mertz, {Kenneth H.} and Soren Reitelseder and Mikkel Jensen and Jonas Lindberg and Morten Hjulmand and Aide Schucany and Andersen, {Soren Binder} and Bechshoeft, {Rasmus L.} and Jakobsen, {Markus D.} and Theresa Bieler and Nina Beyer and Nielsen, {Jakob Lindberg} and Per Aagaard and Lars Holm",

year = "2019",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1111/sms.13524",

language = "English",

journal = "Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Influence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power on functional capacity in healthy older adults

AU - Mertz, Kenneth H.

AU - Reitelseder, Soren

AU - Jensen, Mikkel

AU - Lindberg, Jonas

AU - Hjulmand, Morten

AU - Schucany, Aide

AU - Andersen, Soren Binder

AU - Bechshoeft, Rasmus L.

AU - Jakobsen, Markus D.

AU - Bieler, Theresa

AU - Beyer, Nina

AU - Nielsen, Jakob Lindberg

AU - Aagaard, Per

AU - Holm, Lars

PY - 2019/12/1

Y1 - 2019/12/1

N2 - Purpose Numerous daily tasks such as walking and rising from a chair involve bilateral lower limb movements. During such tasks, lower extremity function (LEF) may be compromised among older adults. LEF may be further impaired due to high degrees of between-limb asymmetry. The present study investigated the prevalence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power in a cohort of healthy older adults and examined the influence of between-limb asymmetry on LEF. Methods Two hundred and eight healthy older adults (mean age 70.2 +/- 3.9 years) were tested for LEF (400 m walking and 30-seconds chair stand). Furthermore, maximal isometric and dynamic knee extensor strength, leg extensor power, and lower limb lean tissue mass (LTM) were obtained unilaterally. Results Mean between-limb asymmetry in maximal muscle strength and power ranged between 10% and 13%, whereas LTM asymmetry was 3 +/- 2.3%. Asymmetry in dynamic knee extensor strength was larger for women compared with men (15.0 +/- 11.8% vs 11.1 +/- 9.5%; P = .005) Leg strength and power were positively correlated with LEF (r(2) = .43-.46, P < .001). The weakest leg was not a stronger predictor of LEF than the strongest leg. Between-limb asymmetry in LTM and isometric strength was negatively associated with LEF (LTM; r(2) = .12, P = .005, isometric peak torque; r(2) = 0.40, P = .03.) but dynamic strength and power were not. Conclusion The present study supports the notion that in order to improve or maintain LEF, healthy older adults should participate in training interventions that increase muscle strength and power, whereas the effects of reducing between-limb asymmetry in these parameters might be of less importance.

AB - Purpose Numerous daily tasks such as walking and rising from a chair involve bilateral lower limb movements. During such tasks, lower extremity function (LEF) may be compromised among older adults. LEF may be further impaired due to high degrees of between-limb asymmetry. The present study investigated the prevalence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power in a cohort of healthy older adults and examined the influence of between-limb asymmetry on LEF. Methods Two hundred and eight healthy older adults (mean age 70.2 +/- 3.9 years) were tested for LEF (400 m walking and 30-seconds chair stand). Furthermore, maximal isometric and dynamic knee extensor strength, leg extensor power, and lower limb lean tissue mass (LTM) were obtained unilaterally. Results Mean between-limb asymmetry in maximal muscle strength and power ranged between 10% and 13%, whereas LTM asymmetry was 3 +/- 2.3%. Asymmetry in dynamic knee extensor strength was larger for women compared with men (15.0 +/- 11.8% vs 11.1 +/- 9.5%; P = .005) Leg strength and power were positively correlated with LEF (r(2) = .43-.46, P < .001). The weakest leg was not a stronger predictor of LEF than the strongest leg. Between-limb asymmetry in LTM and isometric strength was negatively associated with LEF (LTM; r(2) = .12, P = .005, isometric peak torque; r(2) = 0.40, P = .03.) but dynamic strength and power were not. Conclusion The present study supports the notion that in order to improve or maintain LEF, healthy older adults should participate in training interventions that increase muscle strength and power, whereas the effects of reducing between-limb asymmetry in these parameters might be of less importance.

KW - asymmetry

KW - lower extremity function

KW - mobility

KW - muscle power

KW - muscle strength

U2 - 10.1111/sms.13524

DO - 10.1111/sms.13524

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31353627

SN - 0905-7188

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports

ER -

Influence of between-limb asymmetry in muscle mass, strength, and power on functional capacity in healthy older adults

Abstract

Keywords

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