the role of lifespan activities on muscular ......universities of helsinki, eastern finland, oulu,...

Exploratory Workshop Exploratory Workshop The Future of Research in Sport Participation in the Lifespan (EThe Future of Research in Sport Participation in the Lifespan (EW10W10--170)170)Rome, Italy Rome, Italy -- September 14September 14--17, 201117, 2011Convened by: Laura Capranica, Jan Cabri and Romain MeeusenConvened by: Laura Capranica, Jan Cabri and Romain Meeusen

THE ROLE OF LIFESPAN ACTIVITIESON MUSCULAR FUNCTION

Prof. Janne Avela

Department of biology of physical activity, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Standing Committees:European Medical Research Councils (EMSC), Humanities: (SCH), Social Sciences (SCSS)European Science Foundation ▪ 1 quai Lezay Marnésia ▪ BP90015 ▪ FR-67080 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 76 71 36 or 46 ▪ Fax: +33 (0)3 88 37 05 32 ▪ Email: [email protected] ▪http://www.esf.org/workshops

BIOMECHANICS

University of Jyväskylä

founded in 1934

one of the largest universities in Finland

total income 204million euro

7 faculties

some 15,000 students

staff about 2,600

London

Paris

Berlin

Madrid Rome

Athens

Core Fields in Research and Education

Basic natural phenomena and the structure of matter

Education, learning, and teaching in the future

Languages, culture, and social change processes

Physical activity and wellbeing

Human technology

Top Disciplines in the 2010 Research Evaluation

Biology of Physical Activity

Top score

PsychologyMathematicalInformation Technology

Excellent international levelBiological and

Environmental Science Physics History and Ethnology

LanguagesMathematics and

Statistics

Music Health Sciences

Chemistry

Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences

Department of Health Sciences

Department of Sport Sciences

Department of Biology of Physical Activity

Major subjects (B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.)• Exercise Physiology • Biomechanics • Science of Sports Coaching and Fitness Testing

Special Degree Programmes (2 yrs.)• Master’s Degree Programme in Biology of Physical Activity• Wellness technology • Sports technology (in Vuokatti)

About 150 students

Studies at the Department

Exploratory Workshop Exploratory Workshop The Future of Research in Sport Participation in the Lifespan (EThe Future of Research in Sport Participation in the Lifespan (EW10W10--170)170)

Standing Committees:European Medical Research Councils (EMSC), Humanities: (SCH), Social Sciences (SCSS)

Educational Opportunities for Young Researchers

• PhD programmme of Biology of Physical Activity • National Doctoral Programme of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Biomaterials, Joint PhD Programme with the Universities of Helsinki, Eastern Finland, Oulu, Tampere and Turku• 4 year programmes, 70 ECTSs dedicated to research work supporting courses + PhD thesis (4-5 original articles)• Dedicated Symposia: Annual international symposia in biology of physical activity

• Future plans: Double degree PhD Programme with the University of Aalborg, Denmark

Exploratory Workshop Exploratory Workshop The future of Research in Sport Participation in the Lifespan (EThe future of Research in Sport Participation in the Lifespan (EW10W10--170)170)


THE ROLE OF LIFESPAN ACTIVITIES ON MUSCULAR FUNCTION

• Physical activity patterns are prone to change during aging.

• Physical activities include less and less strenuous, strong and fast muscle contractions.

• When interpreting data from aging population, it is difficult to identify the changes in e.g. motor control and muscular function that are purely influenced by the aging process.



Background

Function of the neuromuscular system changes during ageing

Reduction in muscle strength

Decreased muscle mass

Background

Loss of fast motor units (remodeling)Number of motor units decreasesSize of the motor units increases

Central activation failure!?

Background

•Reduced (cortico)spinal excitability•Increased presynaptic inhibition



Open Questions•These degenerations can lead to serious problems in motor control of elderly people, including weakened balance control and increased risk of falling.

•Falling accidents usually occur in dynamic situations

•Thus, possible differences in balance control and in the underlying mechanisms between young and elderly people should be investigated in conditions where the individual tries to regain balance after a dynamic standing perturbation.

Preliminary results

Strength training in elderly

(Häkkinen et al. 1998)

Strength training in elderly

Muscle activation

H-reflex sensitivity



Conclusion and Enhancing Synergies

Maintenance of physical activities, which include also strenuous, strong and fast muscular contractions, throughout the lifespan is extremely important for healthy motor control and, thus muscular function.

International collaboration is needed to develop most efficient training interventions with sufficiently large cohorts.

Scientific evidence for decision-makers.

the role of lifespan activities on muscular ......universities of helsinki, eastern finland, oulu,...

Documents