The Influence of Motor Unit Number and Muscle Activation on Early Phase Rate of Torque Development in Younger and Older Men

This study examined the influence of muscle activation and motor unit number estimation (MUNE) on early phase voluntary rate of torque development (RTD) in younger (YM) and older (OM) men. Thirty-two YM (n = 17; Age = 22 yrs) and OM (n = 15; Age = 74 yrs) volunteered to participate in this study. Early phase RTD (first 50 ms of a rapid isometric contraction; RTD50) and normalized surface electromyography (first 50 ms of muscle excitation; nEMG(50)) were recorded from the right quadricep muscle group. MUNE was examined from the right vastus lateralis. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that nEMG(50) had a significant effect on RTD50 independent of age group (p <= 0.001). nEMG(50) had a significant effect on RTD50 in the OM group (p = 0.037). MUNE had no effect on RTD50 independent of age. Older adults may depend more on muscle activation at contraction onset of early phase RTD compared to younger adults.

Automated summary

This study found that older men rely more on muscle activation compared to younger men in the early phase of voluntary torque development, and MUNE does not have an age-related effect on torque development.