AGE AND SEX DIFFERENCES IN LEG STRENGTH IN STEPPING UP MOVEMENTS
Authors Prusik Katarzyna
prusikkatarzyna@mgail.com
Academy of Physical Education and Sport
Kazimierza Gorskiego str. 1, PL-80-336 Gdansk, Poland

Lapszo Janusz
lapszo@poczta.onet.pl
Academy of Physical Education and Sport
Kazimierza Gorskiego str. 1, PL-80-336 Gdansk, Poland

Giovanis Vassilios
skigivanis@yahoo.gr
University of Athens
41 Ethnikis Antistaseos str., 17237 Dafne - Athens, Greece

Prusik Krzysztof
prusik@hot.pl
Academy of Physical Education and Sport
Kazimierza Gorskiego str. 1, PL-80-336 Gdansk, Poland

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test how much aging changes affect the human motor system with respect to relative leg strength. 15 elderly (7 females, 8 males, av. age 67.1 years) and 28 young (13 females, 15 males, av. age 22.5 years) persons participated in the study. The measurement station consisted of a step-box and four tactile leg sensors. Two of them were placed on a platform on the floor and the other two on a 30.5 cm (12 inches) high step-box. Subjects walked up and down irregularly and as quickly as possible on the step-box with the right and the left leg in response to two lights. The leg strength was measured in a series of 20 movements indirectly by the time of straightening the leg put on the step-box. We have found that the speed of stepping up movements (explosive and dynamic strength of leg straightness) was higher in the young than elderly subjects for the left and right leg by 21.3 % and 21.8% respectively. Elderly female subjects walked up slower than elderly male subjects only with the left leg by 10.3% and by 24.7% more slowly than young female subjects. Elderly men were slower than young ones by 18.6 %. No statistically significant differences were found in the speed of stepping up movements between young female and male subjects for both legs.
Key words step-box; stepping up; relative leg strength;
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First page 125
Last page 129
Volume 10
Year 2011
Title of Journal Pedagogika, psihologia ta mediko-biologicni problemi fizicnogo vihovanna i sportu=PEDAGOGICS, PSYCHOLOGY, MEDICAL-BIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF PHYSICAL TRAINING AND SPORTS
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