Age-Related Declines in Anaerobic Muscular

Performance: Weightlifting and Powerlifting

MARIA M. ANTON, WANEEN W. SPIRDUSO, and HIROFUMI TANAKA
Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

ABSTRACT
ANTON, M. M., W. W. SPIRDUSO, and H. TANAKA. Age-Related Declines in Anaerobic Muscular Performance: Weightlifting and
Powerlifting. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 143147, 2004. Purpose: One approach to studying the effects of aging on
physiological functional capacity (PFC) in humans is to analyze the peak physical performance of trained athletes with increasing age.
The primary aim of the present study was to determine weightlifting and powerlifting performance with increasing age in both men
and women. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of top age-group weightlifting and powerlifting records compiled from
the U.S. Weightlifting and U.S. Powerlifting Organizations. Results: Regression analyses showed that in both men and women
weightlifting and powerlifting performance declined curvilinearly and linearly, respectively. The rate and the overall magnitude of
declines in performance with age were markedly greater (P ! 0.05) in weightlifting than in powerlifting. The rates of age-related
decline in muscular power were not different between upper body (bench press) and lower body (squat). Similarly, the age-related
declines were not different between snatch and clean & jerk in weightlifting events. The magnitude of the declines with age was greater
(P ! 0.05) in women than in men in weightlifting; no such sex-related differences were observed in powerlifting performance.
Conclusions: The findings in this cross-sectional study indicate that 1) peak anaerobic muscular power, as assessed by peak lifting
performance, decreases progressively even from earlier ages than previously thought; 2) the overall magnitude of decline in peak
muscular power appears to be greater in tasks requiring more complex and powerful movements; 3) the age-related rates of decline
are greater in women than in men only in the events that require more complex and explosive power; and 4) upper- and lower-body
muscular power demonstrate similar rate of decline with age. Key Words: AGING, PEAK PERFORMANCE, PHYSICAL WORK
CAPACITY, GENDER

hysiological functional capacity (PFC) declines at

some point with advancing age. Such decrease in PFC
has important clinical and functional implications
(18,23). Generally, determination of the effect of aging per
se on PFC is difficult to perform because several confounding factors (e.g., deconditioning, chronic degenerative disease) could act synergistically and/or independently on the
aging process (3). To minimize such confounding influences, one way to assess PFC in humans is to determine the
changes in peak sport performances with advancing age of
elite athletes (6,21,22).
Master athletes represent an effective study population because age-related changes observed in these healthy trained
and motivated athletes are thought to reflect primarily the
results of physiological aging. Additionally, elaborate rules and
closely monitored competitions ensure well-controlled research environment, from which valuable data can be obtained.
Accordingly, a retrospective regression analysis of peak sport

performances would provide insight into the functional (performance-based) consequences of declines in muscular
strength, muscular endurance, and/or aerobic capacity with
advancing age (6,14,15,21,22). Using this approach, we have
previously reported that sex and exercise-duration interact to
determine the age-related declines in PFC as assessed by running and swimming endurance performance (21,22).
Another, and arguably more important, component of
PFC in relation to aging is muscular strength and power.
The age-associated decline in peak muscular power generation has important clinical and functional implications for
independent living among the elderly (5). The ability to
perform many activities of daily living may be compromised by low muscular strength and power even in healthy
elderly persons (17), and higher levels of anaerobic muscular power can contribute to high levels of physical function
(20). At present, it is not known whether peak strength and
power performance declines in similar trend and time
courses with advancing age as does peak endurance performance, and whether similar age- and sex-interactions in
peak physical performance exist in muscular strength and
power. These questions can be addressed effectively using
peak physical performance data because these data provide
a number of advantages. First, unlike laboratory-based research in which only a limited number of physiological
components can be measured, peak lifting performance data
would provide integrative changes occurring with age that
reflect the sum of many physiological functions. Second, the
competitive master lifters are highly motivated and typically

Address for correspondence: Hirofumi Tanaka, Ph.D., University of Texas

at Austin, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, Austin, TX
78712; E-mail: htanaka@mail.utexas.edu.
Submitted for publication July 2003.
Accepted for publication September 2003.
0195-9131/04/3601-0143
MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE
Copyright 2004 by the American College of Sports Medicine
DOI: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000106283.34742.BE

143

TABLE 1. The number of subjects in each age group.

Weightlifting
Age Group (yr)
Women
Open
4044
4549
5054
5559
6064
6569
Men
Open
4044
4549
5054
5559
6064
6569

Powerlifting

Snatch (N)

Clean & Jerk (N)

Deadlift (N)

Squat (N)

Bench Press (N)

7
7
5
6
5
6
2

7
7
5
6
5
6
2

7
7
5
6
5
6
2

10
10
9
9
9
8
1

10
10
9
9
9
8
1

8
8
8
7
7
7
8

8
8
8
7
7
7
8

8
8
8
7
7
7
8

11
11
11
11
10
9
10

11
11
11
11
10
9
10

train far more intensively than do any subjects enrolled in

laboratory-based strength-training interventions. As such,
the changes observed in these strength-training athletes may
better reflect the effects of physiological aging. Third,
during the competition, each competitor is striving to have
all physiological functions working at their peak and coordinated with the precise timing necessary to perform the
required task. It is highly unlikely that older adults in the
laboratory settings would ever reach the true maximum
effort that is exhibited by master lifters in their competition.
Accordingly, the primary aim of the present investigation
was to determine the respective and interactive effects of
age and sex on peak anaerobic muscular performance. To
accomplish this aim, we performed retrospective analyses of
the data compiled from U.S. weightlifting and powerlifting
records. We also determined whether more complex and
explosive tasks that require a greater involvement of various
physiological functions demonstrate greater decreases in
PFC with advancing age. To do so, PFC assessed by more
complex lifting events (i.e., weightlifting) were compared
with simpler lifting events (i.e., powerlifting).

overall average age-group values were calculated. However,

the age-related changes were calculated within the same weight
category. We analyzed the lifting performance records up to
the age of 69 yr in both events because only a small number of
subjects were available above this age group. We also collected
data on the world records in mens and womens weightlifting
and powerlifting events as of 2002 (International Weightlifting
Federation and International Powerlifting Federation, respectively). This allowed us to calculate the rate of age-related
decline in performance relative to the world record weight of a
particular event.
Statistics. Regression and correlation analyses were
performed to describe the relation between exercise performance and age. A one-way between-subjects analysis of
variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences in
lifting events at each age group. In the case of a significant
F-value, a post hoc test using Newman-Keuls procedure was
used to identify significant differences among mean values.
The probability level of statistical significance was set at
P ! 0.05 in all comparisons. Descriptive statistics were
expressed as means " SE.

METHODS

RESULTS

Analyses of weightlifting and powerlifting performance. Age-group American records for weightlifting and
powerlifting were collected from U.S. Weightlifting and Powerlifting Organizations, respectively, and analyzed retrospectively. In both organizations, participants are divided into 5-yr
age groups (Table 1). We analyzed snatch and clean & jerk
events for weightlifting. The snatch is performed in a continuous movement from the bar on the floor to the fully extended
arm position above the head. The clean & jerk involves two
separate efforts. The weight is lifted from the platform to the
shoulders in one motion (clean). The jerk follows with the
bar thrust into a position overhead, and then feet are brought
together to complete the lift. We also analyzed deadlift, squat,
and bench-press events for powerlifting. According to Meltzer
(15), body weight or different weight categories do not appear
to influence age-related reductions in lifting performance, and
we also confirmed such a trend in the present study. The data
over the different weight categories were therefore pooled, and

Figure 1 illustrates weightlifting and powerlifting performance with advancing age in both women (panel A) and
men (panel B). In all the events examined, lifting performance markedly decreased with advancing age. In both
sexes, the percent decreases in weightlifting performance
(snatch and clean & jerk) were greater (P ! 0.05) than those
in powerlifting performance (deadlift, squat, and bench
press). Differences in age-related declines in muscular
strength were not significant between upper body (bench
press) and lower body (squat). Similarly, age-related declines were not different between snatch and clean & jerk in
weightlifting events.
Sex-related differences in weightlifting and powerlifting
performance as function of age are depicted in Figure 2. In
weightlifting events (panel A), the magnitude of decline in
weightlifting performance (an average of snatch and clean
& jerk) in women was markedly greater (P ! 0.05) than
those in men. The relations between weightlifting records and

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Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine

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FIGURE 1American weightlifting and powerlifting performance

records in each 5-yr age group in women (A) and men (B).

age were described better with the curvilinear plots (r # $0.99

for women and $0.96 for men) compared with the linear plots
(r # $0.93 and $0.94). In contrast to weightlifting events, the
rate and magnitude of age-related decline in powerlifting performance (an average of deadlift, squat, and bench press) were
not different between men and women (panel B), and the
relations between powerlifting performance and age were linear (r # $0.98 for women and $0.99 for men).

DISCUSSION
The salient findings of the present cross-sectional study
are as follows. First, peak anaerobic muscular power, as
assessed by peak lifting performance, decreases linearly or
curvilinearly, and these decreases begin at an earlier age
than was previously thought. Second, the overall magnitude
of the decline in peak muscular power appears to be greater
in tasks requiring very rapid, highly coordinated movements
where exquisite balance must be maintained throughout
(i.e., weightlifting events). Third, age-related declines in
muscular power are greater in women than in men only in
weightlifting events, suggesting that women may experience a
greater age-related reduction in tasks that require more explosive and complex movements. Fourth, upper- and lower-body
muscular power, as assessed by bench press and squat, demonstrate similar rates of decline with advancing age.
Age-related reductions in PFC can be attributed to the overall decreases in muscular, cardiovascular, and nervous system
functions (7,21). Each lifting event is unique in that the extent
to which each of the physiological systems is involved differs
considerably. We were interested in determining whether more
WEIGHTLIFTING AND POWERLIFTING WITH AGING

FIGURE 2Sex-related differences in weightlifting (an average of

snatch and clean & jerk; A) and powerlifting (an average of deadlift,
squat, and bench press; B) performance records as function of age.

complex and explosive tasks that require a greater involvement

of various physiological functions demonstrate greater decreases in PFC with advancing age. To address this, we compared weightlifting and powerlifting performance in terms of
the magnitude of reduction in PFC with age. The snatch and
clean & jerk in weightlifting events require quickness and
explosive power as well as more complex and exquisite neuromuscular coordination to lift the load until the legs and arms
are completely straight. It is also critical to possess excellent
balance throughout the lift to succeed in these Olympic events.
In contrast, speed is not a critical factor for bench press, squat,
and deadlift in powerlifting events unlike its name implies, and
the movement required in each of the powerlifting events is
relatively simple. In the present study, the magnitude of agerelated declines in weightlifting performance was substantially
greater than that in powerlifting. Our present results are consistent with the previous findings that dynamic muscular power
declines at a much faster rate than strength in healthy aging
men (16,19,24). Our findings also extend these findings to
more dynamic whole-body muscular performance. We could
only speculate on the underlying physiological mechanisms,
but this may be explained, at least in part, by greater declines
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise!

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in neuromuscular functions and integration, including an incomplete activation of motor units and peripheral nerve dysfunction, that are related to aging (10). Advancing age is also
associated with the shift of muscle fiber types from faster to
slower myosin heavy chain in both slow and fast muscle fibers
(11) as well as decreases in the shortening velocities of all
muscle fiber types (11). These age-related changes in muscle
contractile properties may also contribute to the greater rate of
decline in powerlifting vs weightlifting events. Taken together,
these results support the hypothesis that the more complex
tasks that require more explosive power and greater neuromuscular coordination may undergo greater reduction with advancing age.
It is interesting to note that greater age-related reductions
in PFC were greater in women versus men only in weightlifting events. In contrast, the rate and magnitude of agerelated decline in powerlifting performance were not different between men and women. If we were to use the same
reasoning applied above, we would hypothesize that women
may undergo greater age-related reductions in anaerobic
muscular power only in the tasks that require greater involvement of explosive power and complex movement. This
is consistent with recent findings that women appear to
undergo greater age-related reductions in muscle fiber shortening velocity even at the single fiber levels (10). We cannot
exclude the possibility, however, that sociocultural factors
may have contributed to these observations (8). For example, it is possible that the explosive nature of weightlifting
events may have discouraged more women, particularly
older women, to compete in these events, creating what
appears to be markedly greater declines in muscular power
in female versus male weightlifters.
Previous cross-sectional studies indicate that the declines
in muscular strength and power are generally small up to age
~50 yr and tend to accelerate thereafter (17). Our present
results using weightlifting and powerlifting performance do
not support this. The reduction in muscular strength and
power observed in the present study was rather substantial
from young to middle age. The discrepancy between the
present and the previous studies may be attributed to the use
of more static measures of muscle strength involving
smaller muscle mass used by previous investigators. It may
be that the decline in more explosive muscular power occurs
at accelerated rates starting from a younger age. Consistent
with this idea, in both men and women, weightlifting performance declined curvilinearly with advancing age
whereas powerlifting performance decreased linearly. More
specifically, the decline in muscular performance from
young to middle-age was more marked in more explosive
weightlifting events than in powerlifting events. It is
tempting to hypothesize that more explosive anaerobic
muscular power may start to decline at a younger age. We
cannot exclude the possibility, however, that because
weightlifting is an Olympic event that is sanctioned by
the International Olympic Committee, the best records at
young elite levels may be elevated higher than those in
powerlifting events and therefore had more room to
decline (i.e., the baseline effect).
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Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine

In the present study, upper- and lower-body muscular

power, as assessed by bench press and squat, demonstrated
similar reductions with advancing age. These findings differ
from the currently prevalent view that age-associated strength
losses occur sooner and at a faster rate in the lower body than
in the upper body (1,2). However, in these previous studies,
muscular strength was assessed with voluntary isometric contractions. Such findings using static strength tests may not be
comparable to those assessing dynamic muscular power. Our
present results, using weightlifting and powerlifting performance records, are consistent with more recent studies using an
isokinetic dynamometer (13). In the Baltimore Longitudinal
study on Aging (13), arm and leg muscle quality derived from
the isokinetic dynamometer declined with age at similar rate in
healthy men. Taken together, these results suggest that dynamic muscular power, in contrast to static muscular strength,
appears to decline similarly in the upper and lower body with
advancing age.
Several limitations for the present investigation should be
emphasized. First, the effects of aging on PFC in humans have
been examined using cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches. The use of cross-sectional comparisons in the present
study would be considered a limitation because they may be
influenced by genetic and constitutional factors (e.g., cohort
difference) (3). However, we and others have demonstrated
that well-conducted cross-sectional studies may yield results
that are qualitatively similar to those from longitudinal studies
when the relation between age and PFC is examined (4,9,14).
Second, it is possible that the participation in weightlifting and
powerlifting events as well as training practices may have
changed over the past decades. If the trends of such changes
had been different between men and women or between
weightlifting and powerlifting events, it could have affected the
age-related rate of decline we observed in the present study.
Third, we cannot exclude the possibility that some of the
athletes we studied had been using anabolic steroids, growth
hormones, or some other muscle building drugs, although both
powerlifting and weightlifting agencies have established drug
testing procedures to prevent such use. Additionally, the use of
nutritional supplementation may have affected the results. Indeed, younger athletes are more likely to adapt performanceenhancing strategies and approaches such as wearing tight
body suits, face slapping, and ammonia inhalation, and increasing age might be accompanied by decreasing use of these
techniques. This age bias could influence the lifting performance disproportionately across the age range, but the effects
of these approaches on performance as well as the incidence of
usage in each age group have not been well substantiated.
In summary, our present results add to the growing body of
evidence that the decline in PFC with advancing age is gender
and task specific (12,22). Moreover, these results provide new
information that PFC requiring more powerful and complex
tasks undergo greater declines with age and that women appear
to experience greater age-related declines in such tasks.
This study was supported in part by National Institutes of Health
awards AG-00847 and AG-020966.
http://www.acsm-msse.org

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