Lifetime Endurance Physical Activity Is Related to Better Cardiometabolic Profile but May Be Insufficient to Preserve Muscle Strength and Power in Middle Aged and Older Men.

Plain-language summary

This study looked at how a lifetime of endurance exercise affects heart health and muscle strength in older men. It followed 59 men, average age 67, who had been doing endurance training for over 30 years, measuring their fitness, blood markers, and muscle strength. While more endurance activity was linked to better heart health and lower diabetes risk, it did not help maintain muscle strength or power as the men aged. The findings suggest that endurance exercise alone may not be enough to keep muscles strong in later life.

Key findings

• Higher lifetime endurance activity was linked to better heart health markers (lower waist size, insulin resistance, and triglycerides, higher HDL cholesterol).
• Endurance activity did not affect muscle strength or power across the groups.
• The benefits for heart health showed up even when comparing men who had been active for decades.