Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, obviously in America have been working with professional swimmers, competitive runners and cyclists aged between 40 and 81 to find out if a vigorous exercise programme can help preserve lean muscle mass said Carole from personal trainer manchester.
Five men and five women took part in this particular study and were representing age groups: 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and then 70 plus. All of these were fit and had been training four or five times per week and competing frequently. Several had won their age groups in recent races.
Afterwards they were asked to complete some questionnaires detailing on their health and weekly physical activities. Researchers then measured their muscle mass, leg strength and body composition, determining how much of their body and, more specifically, their muscle tissue was composed of fat. Carole from personal trainer manchester said that other studies have found that as people age they not only lose muscle but the tissue the tissue left over can become infiltrated with fat, meaning the quality and strength is far less than before.
However with this survey, there was little evidence of deterioration in the older athletes reported Carole from personal trainer manchester. The athletes in their 70’s and 80’s had almost as much thigh muscle mass as the athletes in their 40’s, with minor if any fat infiltration. The athletes also remained strong. There was, as scientists noted, a drop off in leg muscle strength around the age of 60 in both men and women. They weren’t as strong as the 50 year olds, but the difference wasn’t massive and tiny additional declined followed. The 70/80 group of athletes were about as strong as those in their 60’s.