Are Maximal Power and Maximal Aerobic Capacity in Older and Very Old Adults Dependent on their Level of Physical Activity?

Abstract

Age-related declines in maximal power (Pmax) and maximal aerobic power (VO2max) impact functional capacities. Physical activity (PA) can mitigate their decline. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of age and habitual PA level on Pmax and VO2max. Thirty-nine young men (YM, 22.1 ± 3.4 years), 34 old men (OM, 71.7 ± 4.1 years) and 23 very old men (VOM, 85.8 ± 2.7 years) performed an incremental test to determine VO2max and a force-velocity profile to assess Pmax, maximal force (F0) and maximal velocity (V0). The threshold of 10,000 steps per day (SPD) was used to dichotomize participants into high-PA and low-PA groups. Compared to YM, Pmax decreased by 40% and 64% in OM and VOM, respectively, while VO2max decreased by 29% and 51% (all p<0.001). Compared to YM, F0 declined by 29% and 52% in OM and VOM, respectively, while V0 decreased by 17% and 28% (all p<0.01). VO2max, but not Pmax, was greater in high-PA vs. low-PA. In VOM, SPD was related to VO2max (r=0.79; p<0.001) and F0 (r=0.51; p<0.05), and VO2max was positively correlated with F0 (r=0.72; p<0.01). The decline in Pmax, mainly mediated by the loss of force, was greater than the decrease in VO2max. Whereas PA was associated with higher level of VO2max, it does not appear to have an effect on Pmax. The relationships between SPD, VO2max and F0 suggest that above 80 years, a greater strength allows to achieve a greater amount of SPD, ultimately improving VO2max.