Triceps surae contractile properties and firing rates in the soleus of young and old men

Abstract

Mean maximal motor unit firing rates (MUFRs) of the human soleus are lower (5–20 Hz) than other limb muscles (20–50 Hz) during brief sustained contractions. With healthy adult aging, maximal MUFRs are 20–40% lower and twitch contractile speed of lower limb muscles are 10–40% slower compared with young adults. However, it is unknown whether the inherently low maximal MUFRs for the soleus are further reduced with aging in association with age-related slowing in contractile properties. The purpose of the present study was to compare the changes in triceps surae contractile properties and MUFRs of the soleus throughout a variety of contraction intensities in six old (∼75 yr old) and six young (∼24 yr old) men. Neuromuscular measures were collected from the soleus and triceps surae during repeated sessions (2–6 sessions). Populations of single MUFR trains were recorded from the soleus with tungsten microelectrodes during separate sustained 6- to 10-s isometric contractions of varying intensities [25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC)]. The old men had weaker triceps surae strength (MVC; 35% lower) and slower contractile properties (contraction duration; 20% longer) than the young men. However, there was no difference in average MUFRs of the soleus at 75% and 100% MVC (∼14.5 Hz and ∼16.5 Hz, respectively). At 25% and 50% MVC, average rates were 10% and 20% lower in the old men compared with young, respectively. Despite a significant slowing in triceps surae contraction duration, there was no age-related change in MUFRs recorded at high contractile intensities in the soleus. Thus the relationship between the whole muscle contractile properties and MUFRs found in other muscle groups may not exist between the triceps surae and soleus and may be muscle dependent.