How does aging affect muscle function and flexibility?

• A. Increased muscle mass with age
• B. Faster neural conduction
• C. No change in elasticity
• D. Decreased muscle mass (sarcopenia), reduced elasticity, slower neural conduction; resistance training helps.

Answer: (D)

Aging changes muscle function in several interconnected ways: there’s a loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), diminished elasticity of the muscle-tendon units, and slower neural signaling to muscles. This combination leads to weaker muscles and reduced flexibility. The best answer captures all of these changes and adds an important practical point—that resistance training can counteract them by promoting muscle hypertrophy, improving motor unit recruitment, and enhancing the stiffness and length dynamics of the muscle-tendon system, which in turn helps maintain strength and flexibility.

The other statements don’t fit the typical aging pattern. Muscle mass does not generally increase with age. Neural conduction slows rather than speeds up as we get older. Elasticity of the muscle and connective tissues usually declines, not remains unchanged.