Age And Sex Related Power, Force And Velocity In Elite Older Masters Olympic Weightlifters

BACKGROUND: As individuals age, there's a noticeable decline in lower extremity peak power (PP). This decline is observable not just in the general population but also among specialized groups like Masters runners and track and field athletes. PP in Masters Olympic weightlifters has not been examined, nor have velocity (VPP) and force (FPP) at peak power been explored. PURPOSE: To determine sex differences and age-related associations in PP, FPP and VPP in older adult (≥60 years) Masters Olympic weightlifters. METHODS: Forty qualifiers for the 2022 World Masters Weightlifting Championships (> 60 yrs) including 23 women (age 64.7 ± 2.9 yrs) and 17 men (66.1 ± 5.2 yrs) completed three maximal effort countermovement jumps (CMJ) with 1 minute rest periods between trials. During each jump, vertical ground reaction forces were collected from four force platforms and were used to compute PP (W/kg), FPP (N/kg), and VPP (m/s). For each outcome measure, multiple linear regression models using sex, age and age by sex were computed. RESULTS: The models for PP (P < .001, R2 = .532), VPP (P < .001, R2 = .439) and FPP (P = .013, R2 = .194) were statistically significant. Age was associated with less PP (β = -482, P = .001), but the sex (β = -1.6, P = .435) and age by sex (β = -443, P = .660) factors were non-significant. Age was associated with VPP (β = -.488, P = .002) but the sex (β = -1.0, P = .640) and age by sex (β = .419, P = .846) factors were non-significant. For FPP, neither the age (β = -.189, P = .287), sex (β = -.134, P = .959), nor age by sex (β = -.363, P = .888) factors were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to general population data, older adult weightlifters displayed no sex differences in PP, VPP, or FPP. The age-related reductions in PP are attributable to VPP decreases. These findings suggest that the physiological adaptations induced by weightlifting could reduce age-related declines in FPP. Future research is needed to confirm this finding as being directly attributable to weightlifting versus a self-selection participation bias.