Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 98, September 2017 | Page 34

Ma Coaching
BODY SCIENCE
Older &
Slower
Flexibility also decreases with advancing age, particularly in
connective tissues, such as tendons, as they become less pliable.
The muscles also become increasingly inflexible, resulting in a
reduced range of motion. This affects the backwards swing of the
leg, resulting in an earlier recovery and a shorter cycle, reducing
stride length. In a way, this works in tandem with the reduced
exercise capacity, as the most economical running intensity is
brought a gear down.
Aging results in a decrease in muscle size, particularly in the lower
body. In addition, the neural stimulus for muscles to contract
activates fewer muscle fibres, resulting in a decrease in muscle
strength. Fast twitch fibres, which better accommodate high
intensity work, are affected more than slow twitch fibres, which
are suited for endurance events. Even though endurance runners
rely far more on the slow twitch fibres, fast twitch fibres are also
used. As men have greater muscular strength, they also have the
most to lose, meaning that women can slowly close the gap on
their male counterparts as they age.
– BY ERNEST HOBBES, BIOMECHANIST
A
s a runner ages, their lung capacity decreases due to a weakening of the diaphragm and
reduct