I’ve been playing senior (55+) softball for 20+ years. When I started playing I was pretty fast. Now at 75, not so fast. I’ve put on a few pounds, maybe 5 or so, and I’m just as active. So what happened?
The obvious answer is my age. OK, but what are the specific physiological changes that keep my legs from moving as fast as they used to?
Age-related loss of muscle mass plays a big part. You lose myocytes as you age, particularly the fast twitch-type that you need for power movements and bursts of speed.
People often get some arthritis when they age.
Doesn’t, also, the psychological impulse for injury avoidance increase as we get older? My athletic movements were far riskier when I was young. At 60, I’m more aware that “giving it my all” could have health consequences.
A big part yes but it seems to be at all levels, brain down.
The brain ages and apparently doesn’t send the messages with as much fine tuned efficiency. That lack of neuromuscular efficiency may be the bigger factor.
The loss of power is referred to as dynopenia.
“They say the mind is the second thing to go…”
I should have remembered that.