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First published on November 30, 2007, doi:10.1177/0363546507309673
This version was published on March 1, 2008
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The American Journal of Sports Medicine 36:443-450 (2008)
© 2008 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine

Age-Related Rates of Decline in Performance Among Elite Senior Athletes

Vonda J. Wright, MD* and Brett C. Perricelli, MD

From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Sports Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* Address correspondence to Vonda J. Wright, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Sports Medicine, 3200 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 (e-mail: vondawright{at}hotmail.com).

Background: Age-related disability and lost independence currently plague one third of older Americans. Many causes of disability, lost muscle mass and bone mineral density, are modifiable with exercise. Most exemplary of successful aging are the Senior Olympians; this group of vital athletes exhibit persistently high levels of functional capacity.

Purpose: This study describes demographic data, injury characteristics and the effect of aging on physical performance in senior athletes to identify key time points for intervention to address declining performance.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: Senior Olympians (>50 years) participating in the 2001 National Senior Olympic Games were surveyed for demographic and health characteristics. Age-related changes in physical performance were determined from mean winning performance times in track and field events. These were plotted against age and task for men and women. Analysis of variance and intergroup significance were analyzed using the Tukey procedure. Percentage performance change across events was compared. The 2001 National Senior Olympic Games results were compared with American track and field record holders.

Results: Senior athletes’ performance declined (male and female) approximately 3.4% per year over 35 years of competition—slowly from age 50 to 75 years and dramatically after age 75 years. Men showed no difference in decline of sprint and endurance events, whereas the decline in the sprint was greater than in endurance for women, especially after the age of 75 years.

Conclusion: Even the healthiest examples of musculoskeletal aging experience significant performance declines around age 75 years. This may be a key time point for preventive intervention.

Key Words: senior athlete • musculoskeletal aging • performance decline • Senior Olympics






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Copyright © 2008 by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.