Aging and neuromuscular performance

Question 1

What occurs to the muscle as we age

Answer 1

Muscle cross sectional area reduces, motor units decline and fibres atrophy.

Question 2

Describe sarcopenia

Answer 2

Progressive and generalised disorder of skeletal muscle strength, function and mass.

Question 3

Aging reduces muscle…..

Answer 3

strength and endurance

Question 4

There is more muscle loss in the _______ limb than _______ limb

Answer 4

lower, upper

Question 5

There is an __________ loss due to muscle atrophy

Answer 5

apetite

Question 6

Effect of aging on flexibility of muscles

Answer 6

Reduces joint flexibility and ROM, posture is also decreased

Question 7

What neurological systems experience a decline as we age

Answer 7

• Number of spinal cord axons
• Nerve conduction velocity
• Stimulus detection
• Information processing

Question 8

There is impaired ________ between muscle, making it harder to adapt to changes in the environment

Answer 8

synergies

Question 9

How is gait effected by aging

Answer 9

Shorter duration of single leg stance, greater duration of double leg stance. Wider base of support. Reduced/limited toe off
Decreased gait velocity, reduced push off (so decreased stride length), increase in step width and flatter foot landing

Question 10

How is the somatosensory system effected by aging

Answer 10

• Decreases quantity and quality of touch and pressure receptors
• Decline in sensory fibres innervating peripheral receptors
• Tactile sensitivity decreases

Question 11

How does aging effect sight

Answer 11

Loss of visual field, visual acuity (sharpness) and visual contrast sensitivity – there is less light transmitted to the retina

Question 12

There is a 40% loss in _________ and _______ cells by 70

Answer 12

vestibular hair, nerve

Question 13

There is a loss in all sensory systems so……

Answer 13

CANNOT compensate by using other systems