Bilateral and Unilateral Neuromuscular Function and Muscle Cross-Sectional Area in Middle-Aged and Elderly Men and Women

Forty-eight healthy men (M) and women (W), divided into two different age groups, i.e., M50 yrs (range 44-57; n = 12), W50 yrs (range 43-57; n = 12), M70 yrs (range 59-75; n = 12), and W70 yrs (range 62-75; n = 12), volunteered as subjects for examination of muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), maximal voluntary forces, force-time curves, and electromyographic activity of the knee extensor muscles during bilateral and unilateral isometric contractions. The maximal bilateral knee extension force and the average CSA values in M50 were greater (p < .05) than in M70 and in W50 were greater (p < .05-.001) than those recorded for W70. The early forces in the force-time curve were greater (p < .05) …