Running head: PHYSIOLOGY OF AGING
Aging Assignment Essay Question
Kaitlyn Riggins
Liberty University
10/15/21
PHYSIOLOGY OF AGING
Nash Fountain used to be the world Decathlon (the best all-around Track & Field Athlete)
champion when he was 25 years old. Now, 30 years later, he comes to you and complains of
feeling like he has less power, strength, speed, cardiorespiratory endurance, and muscle-mass
despite the fact that he still weighs 150lbs like he did when he was 25 years old. Explain to
Nash, in great detail, what contributing factors are associated with why he now feels the way
that he does at the “ripe-old-age” of 55 years old.
Training in the older adult population can be a difficult and special process. Although
exercise can be a challenge in old age, the body never loses the ability to gain muscle. However,
the body does undergo physiological changes as our age increases. These changes can affect
trainability and should be considered. Exercise should be encouraged in older individuals to help
prevent the process of diseases and extend the length of independent living (Powers, 2016).
As we begin the aging process, our bodies start to physically decline. According to
Powers, strength declines as much as 10% from the age of 20-50 (2016). It tends to decrease
even faster after that age (Power,2016). A natural decrease in muscle mass, decrease in muscle
fibers, decreased motivation to exercise, reduced testosterone, and increased metabolic disorders
are some contributing factors to a decline in strength. Having a well-balanced exercise plan
including strength, flexibility and/or endurance training has proven to increase strength in older
adults as much as 30%. (Powers, 2016). Another positive effect of strength training during the
aging process is an increase in muscle fiber growth and flexibility (Killian, 2021).
Older adults above the age of 50 have a decrease in power. This is due to a deterioration
of type II muscle fibers, connective tissues, and neurons over the course of time. Muscle
structures can be maintained and increased through moderate intensity resistance training.
(Killian, 2021). Ways to allow your body to increase this rate include cardiovascular exercise and
body weight training. An increase in power in older adults can lead to improved function during
daily life activities (Killian, 2016).
PHYSIOLOGY OF AGING
The older adult population can have disadvantages in speed training as they begin to lose
function in their nervous and muscular system response. The nervous system begins to slow due
to the loss of nerve cells and atrophy of neurological tissues. This tissue damage hinders the
motor neurons communication to the brain. In additional too nervous system decline, muscle
fibers decrease in size and capillary volume decreases. Deterioration of muscles causes lower
ATP storage which is needed for energy during speed training. Speed can be increased in older
individuals if they participate in frequent flexibility exercises, agility training, and acceleration
exercises (Killian, 2021).
Cardiorespiratory endurance in the older population will decline naturally through time.
Disadvantages can include decreased blood flow centrally/peripherally, decreases in aerobic
capacity, maximum heart rate, maximum stroke volume, and maximum cardiac output. When
cardiorespiratory exercise is implemented, these disadvantages can be lessened. Aging leads to
decreased elasticity of the lungs, causing hypo-inflation and decreased oxygen perfusion.
Cardiovascular endurance training in older adults can increase the elasticity of the lungs due to
better inflation. Increased inflation of the lungs allows better inspiration and expiration of
respiratory gases. Older adults performing high intensity or high endurance exercise have an
overall increased respiratory function (Killian, 2021).
The process of aging eventually leads to changes in body composition. Changes include
increases of fat storage, decreased ability to utilize fat as a fuel source, increases in fat mass, and
decreases in fat-free mass (muscle mass). Men also lose muscle mass quicker than woman after
the age of about 45. Decreases in testosterone, inability to be mobile, increased calorie intake,
and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to these changes. You may weigh the same as you did at 25,
however, your body composition is different now. There may have been a decrease in fat-free
PHYSIOLOGY OF AGING
mass but an increase in fat mass. Continued strength training in older adults will lead to an
increase in type I and II muscle fibers depending on the training style. More muscle mass
typically leads to better performance in exercise (Killian, 2021).
Research supports that exercise in the older adult population will have positive effects on
everyday life. Powers states “The “normal” deterioration of physiological function with age can
be attenuated or reversed with regular endurance and strength training (2016). Exercise in this
population leads to a decrease in the process of diseases, increase in bone health, and an over
increase in muscle mass.
