Biochemical Foundations of Human Vital Activity - Volkov N.I., Nesen E.N. 2000

Biochemistry of Sports
Biochemical Factors of Athletic Performance
Age and Athletic Performance

Human physical performance depends on age. Aerobic and anaerobic capacities increase as the body physiologically matures and the person psychologically develops. With age, total body mass increases, along with The amount of Key Enzymes for aerobic and Anaerobic METABOLISM in skeletal Muscles, as well as the activity and stability of these enzymes during exercise. Furthermore, energy reserves in Tissues expand, the functioning of autonomic systems responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to muscles and removing Metabolic waste products improves. All these indicators typically reach their peak by the ages of 20—25, during the period of physiological maturity. At this age, athletes achieve their best results in endurance-focused events. After 40 years of age, human physical performance gradually declines, dropping by about half at age 60 compared to age 20.

During developmental Aging, certain differences are observed in the dynamics of individual bioenergetic indicators. For instance, maximum anaerobic power in men increases rapidly, peaking at around 20 years of age, remains at this level until roughly 30, and then begins to decline. In women, this indicator is characterized by a more rapid growth during youth (peaking at 18 years) and a more pronounced decline at an older age (Fig. 170, a). The indicator of aerobic power—maximal oxygen uptake—reaches its highest values in men by age 25, remains stable up to age 40, and then decreases. In women, maximal oxygen uptake is observed at age 20 and begins to decline after 35 (Fig. 170, b). The capacity to accumulate maximum amounts of lactic acid in tissues (anaerobic glycolytic power) in both men and women reaches its highest values by age 22 and rapidly declines at a more mature age (Fig. 170, c). Indicators of capacity and efficiency of bioenergetic processes are characterized by slower developmental rates: they reach their highest values by 25—30 years of age, and with systematic training, can remain near their maximum level up to 40—45 years. The rates of decline of these indicators in middle and older age are more pronounced in women (Fig. 170, d, e).

These Features of the age dynamics of human physical performance must be taken into account when developing physical education programs for the younger generation and conducting health-improving physical training sessions for individuals of different ages and genders.

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Fig. 170 Age dynamics of maximum anaerobic power (a), VO₂max (b), maximum Blood lactate accumulation (c), aerobic capacity (d), and aerobic efficiency — AT (e)

Review Questions

1. Name the main factors limiting physical performance.

2. Which indicators constitute the group of potency and productivity factors? Characterize them.

3. What bioenergetic processes determine human physical performance?

4. What are the integrative indicators of power, capacity, and efficiency of bioenergetic processes?

5. How do bioenergetic factors influence the level of performance in your sport?

6. How does specialized training affect The Development of an athlete's aerobic and anaerobic capacity?

7. How do age-related changes affect an athlete's performance?