Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı
Gülhane Askeri Tıp Akademisi, Fizyoloji Anabilim Dalı As we get older the skeletal muscle becomes smaller and weaker. Particularly, following exercise, recovery is severely impaired and muscle is unable to adapt following sequential periods of exercise rapidly. The mechanism by which skeletal muscle damage occurs is poorly understood and whether free radical species plays in this damage are controversial. However, evidence there is which suggests that increased production of free radicals may act as an activator of the adaptive response in skeletal muscle, resulting in the increased production of antioxidant enzymes and heat shock proteins (HSPs). Consequences of the aging on muscles are declining physiological function and loss of muscle strength, typically associated with reduced physical activities. Regular exercise and dietary programs that we offered for aging people, must be our main purpose for increasing their quality of life. Keywords : Aging, muscle metabolism, factors influencing muscle changes, nutrition, exercise