ABSTRACT

Aims:

The aim of this study is to determine the age influence on the development of the muscle strength in biceps and on the representation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Methods:

The study was carried out in Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad between October 2014- January 2015 and included 20 females between the ages of 18 - 25 years and 20 females between the ages of 50 – 60. For each subject, anthropometric parameters were determined, as well as dynamometric parameters of the biceps muscle strength, the ultrasound dimensions of the biceps and the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Caliper was used to determine the percentage of body fat based on skinfolds around the biceps. The collected data were then statistically analyzed.

Results:

There was greater representation of body fat mass in older (30%±7.2) compared to younger women (20%±7) and these values were statistically significant. The ultrasound revealed statistically significant age differences; older women have greater values of subcutaneous fat (1.5±0.26mm) and dimensions of biceps (31.03±3.9mm) than younger women with values of subcutaneous fat (1.2±0.1mm) and dimensions of biceps (29.04±4.2mm). There was greater mean value of muscular strength of biceps in younger women (35±6kg) compared to older women (32±8.5kg). It was established that there was a positive statistically significant correlation between body fat percentage and thickness of adipose tissue (r=0.55) (p<0.05), as well as between mean muscular strength and ultrasound measurement of biceps (r=0.37) (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

Older women have greater representation of subcutaneous adipose tissue, while younger women have greater muscle strength of biceps.