The aging athlete

Nutrition for Master Athletes: Is There a Need for Specific Recommendations?

Master athletes are often considered exemplars of successful aging, thanks to their capacity to maintain a high sports performance during their entire life. A high training capacity, regular participation in sporting competitions, and delayed alterations in body composition and physiological capacities have been listed among the main factors contributing to impressive master athletes' performances. However, there is a paucity of data on the metabolism and dietary habits of master athletes, and the question of whether they need to adapt their nutrition to the aging process remains open. Herein, the authors presented a contemporary overview of the metabolic challenges associated with aging, including the risk of low energy availability, anabolic resistance, and periods of metabolic crisis due to forced immobilization. After assembling scientific evidence to show that master athletes must adapt their dietary intake, the authors proposed a summary of nutritional recommendations for master athletes and suggested the next stage of research.

Considerations in treating physically active older adults and aging athletes

Life spans are increasing and research is showing more and more how important exercise is to successful aging. Medical practitioners need to appreciate the physiologic and physical changes that occur with age, as well as the significant benefits of physical activity, so they not only can properly treat their older patients but also so they can promote the benefits of exercise to their sedentary older patients.

What Can We Learn About Diet and Physical Activity From Master Athletes?

Only 13% of those 65 years and older engage in vigorous physical activity 3 or more days a week and obesity rates are increasing by 45% in adults over the age of 60. Physical activity helps prevent chronic disease and improves quality of life, yet few adults of any age are active. One exception is master athletes who participate in competitive sports during the middle and later years. The aerobic fitness of master athletes, as measured by maximal oxygen consumption, shows some decline, but not nearly as much as in sedentary controls. Master athletes have lipid profiles similar to those of young adults, which decreases their risk of heart disease. Master athletes also have better glucose tolerance and lower waist-to-hip ratios than sedentary adults, decreasing their risk for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. In the few dietary studies that have been conducted, master athletes consume more food energy while maintaining lower body weights than sedentary adults. Learning what motivates master athletes to stay highly active may help health professionals develop strategies to encourage exercise in the sedentary population of older adults.

Sit to stand transfer: performance in rising power, transfer time and sway by age and sex in senior athletes

OBJECTIVE

To observe the differences in performance variables of the sit to stand transfer (as measured on the NeuroCom Balance Master) in a population of senior athletes.

METHOD

A convenience sample of 173 subjects aged 50 years and older. Data were obtained from voluntary participation in a health fair offered at the annual Huntsman World Senior Games in St George, Utah, USA. All sit to stand tests were performed on the NeuroCom Balance Master. The measured parameters were weight transfer time (WTT), rising power (force exerted to rise), and centre of gravity sway (COG sway) during the rising phase.

RESULTS

A significant difference was found between stratified age groups (50-64 and 65+ years) on rising power. There was also a sex difference in rising power. No significant differences were found in weight transfer time or COG sway.

CONCLUSION

While rising power decreases with increasing age in senior athletes, WTT and COG sway remain similar regardless of age or sex. The maintenance of these other two variables (WTT and COG sway) may be attributable to physical activity and/or participation in sport.

Frailty and the aging male

Frailty occurs in aging males for a variety of reasons. It is less common in males than females. Diseases which are particularly associated with frailty are diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, anemia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Insulin resistance syndrome plays a pathogenetic role in the "fat-frail" syndrome. Sarcopenia occurs predominantly because of hormone deficiency and cytokine excess. Pain and anorexia are also associated with frailty. Stem cell research represents a potential promise for the treatment of frailty.

The Neuroarticular Lesion in the Elderly: A Condensed Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

This condensed literature review was performed to show how inappreciably known are the aging effects of the neuromuscular system, especially the neuroarticular function. To give a needed perspective on the aging process of the musculoskeletal system of a rapidly aging population that is all-important to the chiropractor.

DATA SOURCES

An online search of several databases (MEDLINE and MANTIS) provided several guidelines for review. Comparison among the guidelines was made on different aspects: format, focus, significance of aging of the neuroarticular process, and primary diagnostic considerations. For brevity, no tables were cited for comparisons on the aspects covered and supported by the references.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Condensed literature review from abstracts and full-length articles were used to establish the review conclusions.

RESULTS

The data and information found in this literature search are insufficient to draw primary conclusions about the aging process and the neuroarticular complex.

CONCLUSION

It may be simply concluded that there needs to be additional concentrated research in the area of the neuroarticular process and the lesion that occurs at some point in time to a significant majority of individuals. As a large portion of chiropractic patients are elderly, this perspective should be read by all chiropractors. There were several criteria in mind when the project began, especially to improve the chiropractic care of the aged patient, to review and to develop needed data, and to understand the neuroarticular process involvement. This article was to accomplish the understanding and build interest in the degeneration ramifications in the neuroarticular complex of the elderly. This interest may stimulate more attention on the subject with an extensive literature search of the topic and additional research needed.

Maintenance of BMD in older male runners is independent of changes in training volume or VO(2)peak

BACKGROUND

The results of several recent research studies have questioned the benefit of chronic running in reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis. These negative conclusions are based upon the findings that runners, in general, are not different from controls with regard to their bone mineral density (BMD). This has led one to speculate that the value of weight-bearing exercise might be related to its ability to maintain bone mass or, perhaps, decrease the expected rates of loss.

METHODS

We examined a group of 54 male master athletes ranging in age from 40 to 80 years longitudinally over a 5- to 7-year intervening period. Physiological parameters included VO(2)peak, body composition, bone density, and running performance. Medical histories and training records were obtained via questionnaire.

RESULTS

Over the average 4.6 years between tests one and two, significant increases in body weight and lean body mass were observed. Aerobic fitness declined, as did weekly mileage and 5K and 10K performance times. Bone mineral density was lower in the whole body but not in the hip or the spine. Finally, we report no significant relationship between the change in training volume, change in body weight or lean mass, and change in aerobic capacity with changes in BMD.

CONCLUSIONS

Hip and spine BMD are maintained over a 4- to 5-year period in master runners. Furthermore, changes in bone density or content are not sensitive to moderate changes in training volumes. We conclude that bone density can be maintained by running in older active men. These findings suggest that if a minimal threshold of mileage is required, the level is certainly below the average mileage of master runners.