Age-Related Study of Anthropometry Indicators, Body Composition, Strength and Vital Capacity at Masters Athletics: How to Postpone Sarcopenia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the anthropometric indicators of sports veterans, former athletes who stopped training, and non-sports people aged 40 years and older to assess the impact of regular sports on the stability of the body.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

100 athletes and 31 people non-sports were included in the study. Athletes were divided into two groups depending on the mode of motor activity. The first group (n=75) continued their regular sports activities. The second group (n=25) stopped training. Height, weight, chest circumference, mobility, waist, shoulder circumference, forearm, hip, ankle, fat mass, and muscle mass were measured, and dynamometry was performed.

RESULTS

Body weight is statistically significantly (p<0.05) less in those who continue sports (70.7±10.2) classes after 60 years compared with the control group (82.4±9.3). In sports veterans, the chest excursion and the shoulder circumference is statistically significantly (p<0.05) greater than in the control group. In the subjects of the first group aged from 40 to 49 (4551±612) and from 50 to 59 (4242±416), the FVC index was statistically significantly (p<0.05) higher than in the control group (3890±344 and 3786±401, respectively). The body composition of veterans is characterized by a high level of muscle mass and a low level of fat mass. At the age of 40-49, the percentage of muscle tissue in sports veterans was statistically significantly higher (46.32±2.74) (p<0.05) than in the group of athletes who stopped sports activities (44.09±5.29).

CONCLUSION

Veterans of sports demonstrate higher indicators of limb girth and muscle strength compared to untrained people of the same age. In addition, sports veterans have a lower content of adipose tissue and a greater expression of muscle mass. Thus, the data obtained by us show that sports prevent the development of sarcopenia and can also affect cardiovascular risk.