Anthropometric, physical function and general health markers of Masters athletes: a cross-sectional study.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study without a concurrent control group
PubMed 28894644 · doi:10.7717/peerj.3768
What was done
Researchers evaluated 156 Masters athletes (78 men, 78 women; mean age 55.7 years) competing at the 2014 Pan Pacific Masters Games across four age brackets: 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and over 70 years old. Body fat percentage, fat mass, and fat-free mass were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, along with height, weight, BMI, and sarcopenia status. Physical function was assessed using handgrip strength and habitual walking speed. General health markers were quantified by the number of diagnosed chronic diseases and prescribed medications. Differences across age brackets were analyzed using ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc tests.
What was found
No Masters athletes met the criteria for sarcopenia, though 1 athlete had below-normal physical performance and 6 had below-normal muscle strength. Statistically significant age-related reductions in handgrip strength and increases in chronic diseases and prescribed medications were observed across the cohort and within male and female subgroups. Participants aged over 70 years averaged one chronic disease and one prescribed medication. The abstract did not report exact numerical values for body composition, gait speed, or grip strength across the age subgroups.
Why it matters
This study provides cross-sectional baseline data showing that older competitive athletes maintain high muscle function and low disease burden, presenting a distinct physiological profile from typical age-matched sedentary populations.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot determine whether sport participation caused better health or if healthier individuals self-selected into competitive athletics. There was no concurrent sedentary control group; comparisons were made against historical literature values. The abstract also omits exact subgroup sample sizes, effect sizes, and specific sports disciplines.
Cited by
- supports Master athletes who remain physically active in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s can attenuate most age-related muscle loss.