Implications on older women of age- and sex-related differences in activation patterns of shoulder muscles: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess differences in neuromotor attributes of shoulder muscles between age groups in both sexes and to better understand functional disorders in older women. Twenty young (20–42 years old), 20 middle-aged (43–67), and 20 older (> 68) adults participated in a comparative surface-electromyography study of five muscles. We identified age-related differences in women, especially in scapula stabilizer muscles. There was a tendency for both sexes of delayed onset times with increasing age, excepting the upper trapezius muscle in females. The results highlight the importance of understanding musculoskeletal aging in women to adequately guide physical therapeutic approaches.

KEYWORDS:

• Age groups
• aging
• shoulder
• surface electromyography
• women

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Physiotherapy in Women’s Health Research Group of the University of Alcalá and the Ocaña Senior Center for the loan of their facilities. The authors would like to thank Ms. Marcie Matthews of Polishedwords for language assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by The Experimental Neurophysiology Group belonging to The Department of System Biology of University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain.