INTRODUCTION: The aging process refers to a group of developmental disorders that occur in recent years and is associated with profound changes in body composition. This age-related loss has been termed "sarcopenia". OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the muscular strength in the ageing process and identify the changes between the abdominal muscles, upper and louver edges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 48 individuals participated in this study, being divided into four groups according to the age: (G1) 11 to 18 years old, (G2) 20 to 26 years old, (G3) 45 to 60 years old and (G4) 66-82 years old. The evaluation instruments used were: 1) sphygmomanometer (MS) - to analyze the strength of flexors and extensors of the knee joint; 2) trunk flexion in the supine position - to evaluate the strength of the abdominal muscles (grades 0-5); 3) Jamar dynamometer - for evaluation of grip strengthand; 4) Preston Pinch Gauge dynamometer - to evaluate the strength of the gripperfingers (thumb and forefinger). RESULTS: We have observed increasing development of the muscular strength of the upper and louver members with the ageing process (G1, G2 and G3) and significant decrease of the muscular strength of all segments tested in G4 when comparing with G3. We also observed an important variation between the muscular force of the tests segments and the age. The work suggests that the decrease of the muscular force becomes evident from the life sixth decade and that there are variations of strength among the abdominal muscles, upper and louver members.
Aging; Muscular strength; Sarcopenia
