Aging and the force-velocity relationship of muscles

Experimental Gerontology 45 (2010) 81–90

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Experimental Gerontology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/expgero

Review

Aging and the force–velocity relationship of muscles
Isaac Selva Raj a,*, Stephen R. Bird a, Anthony J. Shield b a b

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia
School of Human Movement Studies, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove Campus, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 12 June 2009
Received in revised form 24 October 2009
Accepted 27 October 2009
Available online 31 October 2009
Keywords:
Aging
Force–velocity
Muscles
Strength
Power

a b s t r a c t
Aging in humans is associated with a loss in neuromuscular function and performance. This is related, in part, to the reduction in muscular strength and power caused by a loss of skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) and changes in muscle architecture. Due to these changes, the force–velocity (f–v) relationship of human muscles alters with age. This change has functional implications such as slower walking speeds.
Different methods to reverse these changes have been investigated, including traditional resistance training, power training and eccentric (or eccentrically-biased) resistance training. This review will summarise the changes of the f–v relationship with age, the functional implications of these changes and the various methods to reverse or at least partly ameliorate these changes.
Ó 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Aging in humans is associated with a loss in neuromuscular function and performance (Carville et al., 2007; Doherty, 2003;
Hunter et al., 2004). This is, in part, related to the reduction in strength and power (Macaluso and De Vito, 2004) caused by a loss of skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) (Hunter et al., 2004; Narici et al., 2003) and changes in

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