Age and Sex Differentially Affect Regional Changes in 1RM

[3XL]

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 731–737.

Age and Sex Differentially Affect Regional Changes in One Repetition Maximum Strength
Jeffrey T. Lemmer, Gregory F. Martel, Diane E. Hurlbut, and Ben F. Hurley


Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742

ABSTRACT

Lemmer, J.T., G.F. Martel, D.E. Hurlbut, and B.F. Hurley. Age and sex differentially affect regional changes in 1 repetition maximum strength. J. Strength Cond. Res. 21(3):731– 737. 2007.—

To assess the influences of age and sex on regional changes in 1 repetition maximum (1RM) strength, 10 young men (20–30 years), 8 young women (20–30 years), 11 older men (65– 75 years), and 10 older women (65–75 years) were studied before and after a 24-week whole-body strength training program.

Changes in 1RM strength were analyzed for each individual exercise, as well as by calculating a total body score (TBS), an upper body score (UBS), and a lower body score (LBS).

The effect of age and sex on changes in 1RM strength was analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance.

When changes in strength for individual exercises were analyzed, the chest press, lat pulldown, shoulder press, and triceps pushdown were affected by both age (p < 0.05) and sex (p < 0.05), while the biceps curls were only influenced by age (p < 0.05).

For the lower body, the leg press changes in 1RM strength were influenced by age (p < 0.0001), while leg extension was influenced by sex (p < 0.05). Total body score, UBS, and LBS showed significant increases with 24 weeks of ST (p < 0.001, all).

Changes in TBS and UBS were affected by age (p < 0.001, both) and sex (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Younger subjects showed a greater increase in strength than older subjects, and men showed a greater increase in strength compared with women.

Changes in LBS were affected by age (p < 0.001), with younger subjects showing a greater increase in strength compared with the older subjects, but not by sex (p = 0.464).

These data indicate that regional increases in strength are differentially affected by age and sex.
Age and Sex Differentially Affect Regional Changes in One Repetition Maximum Strength