Aim: 

Sarcopenia means the physiological reduction of skeletal muscle mass and strength in elderly individuals (Fulle et al, 2005). The purpose of our study was to study the effects of different trainings (endurance, resistance and local vibrational energy) in elderly.

Methods: 

We enrolled healthy 65–85 y-old subjects and randomly assigned them to a specific training of 12 weeks. Before and after the training, we made a biopsy of vastus lateralis and divided it in three fragments for: (i) the specific tension development of single fibers and the expression of myosin heavy chain proteins; (ii) the transcriptional profile and (iii) the regenerative capacity of satellite cells.

Results: 

The single fiber strength development does not change with any training protocol. Considering the gene expression profiles, each physical activity share a stimulation of a specific metabolic pathway; both endurance and vibrational training up regulate genes involved in aerobic metabolism while the resistance training stimulates that of creatine pathway. All training, with different modalities, stimulate the expression of some sarcomeric and/or cytoskeletal proteins. In particular vibrational training stimulates proteins linked to Z-line while endurance induces the over expression of protein for neuronal chemotaxis.

Conclusion: 

In conclusion, our results suggest that all training performed counteract Sarcopenia progression and each of them are able to stimulate specific molecular signalling which, in turn effects specific metabolic pathways.