ABSTRACT

Muscle mass, strength, and power contribute to athletic performance of extraordinary levels. In the general aging population, high levels of muscular fitness prolong the ability to perform activities of daily living (28) and are related to high levels of physical and psychological well-being (39). Low or weak muscular fitness is associated with higher prevalence of all-cause mortality (29), type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoarthritis (51). Recent data show grip strength as a stronger predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality than systolic blood pressure (29). Dynapenia (age-associated loss of muscle strength) and sarcopenia (age-associated loss of muscle mass) (36) have an increasing impact on healthcare costs in aging populations (23). On the other hand, gene hunting for “elite power performance” shows high interest in identifying genetic endowments related to strength and or power excellence in sports (43) (see Chapters 19–23).