Table 1 The effect of age on exercise-induced muscle damage in men

Lavender and Nosaka [45]

20 healthy males (10 young, 10 older)

19 ± 0, 71 ± 2

6 × 5 reps eccentric contractions of elbow flexors

40% maximal isometric strength

MIVC

Muscle soreness

CK

Mb

Range of motion

Limb circumference

↓*

↓*

↓*

↓*

↓*

 ↔ 

Not recovered (240-h)

↓

Not given

Not given

↓

Not recovered (240-h)

Lavender and Nosaka [46]

18 healthy males (10 young, 8 older)

20 ± 2, 71 ± 4

6 × 5 reps eccentric contractions of elbow flexors

40% maximal isometric strength

MIVC

Muscle soreness

CK

Mb

Range of motion

Limb circumference

↓*

↓*

↓*

↓*

↓*

 ↔ 

Not recovered (96-h)

↓

Not recovered (96-h)

Not recovered (96-h)

Not recovered (96-h)

Not recovered (96-h)

Repeated bout (4-wks) did not confer a protective effect for MIVC but it did for soreness and Mb

Przybyla et al. [48]

34 healthy males (17 young, 17 older)

32 ± 7, 71 ± 5

3 × 8 reps for bilateral leg press, leg curl, and leg extension

80% 1-RM. Plus 4th set to failure

Macrophage number

Cytokine expression

↓

↓

N/A

N/A

At rest, older adults had higher levels of IL-1β, IL-1RA, and IL-10

Lavender and Nosaka [47]

32 healthy males (10 young, 12 middle-aged, 10 older)

20 ± 2, 48 ± 7, 71 ± 4

6 × 5 reps eccentric contractions of elbow flexors

40% maximal isometric strength

MIVC

↓*

Not recovered (120-h)

No changes in force fluctuations at any intensity (30%, 50%, 80% MIVC)

Nikolaidis et al. [49]

20 healthy males (10 young, 10 older)

22 ± 4, 67 ± 5

5 × 15 reps of back squat

75% 1-RM on a Smith machine

MIVC

Muscle soreness

CK

Range of motion

Joint position sense

↓*

↔

↔

↔

↔

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A