Effect of aging on muscle and tendon properties in highly functioning elderly people

This study analyzes long‐term changes in muscle strength, muscle architecture, and patellar tendon mechanical properties in a specific sample of physically active elderly people. Twenty‐two participants were re‐examined from a former 12‐week‐long skiing intervention study: 11 from the intervention group (IG: 7 ♀, 4 ♂; 67 ± 3 years) and 11 from the control group (CG: 6 ♀, 5 ♂; 66 ± 4 years). Muscle architecture, strength endurance, maximum torque, and tendon properties were analyzed three times within 6 months, and again 6 years later in a follow‐up test. No changes in either group could be observed between June 2009 and April 2015 in any parameter. This can be interpreted positively because no age‐related decreases were found. Although our participants were physically active from the very beginning (>150 min/wk), it must be noted that the intensity of the physical activity was too low to provoke physiological improvements in leg strength or muscle/tendon morphology.