A new study found that regular cycling may slow sarcopenia – the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. Men who cycled regularly had larger, leaner gluteus muscles than inactive men.

The study involved two groups of men: 28 who were physically inactive and had not practiced sports for an average of 27 years and 28 who were trained recreational male cyclists, had cycled more than 4,300 miles in the past year, and had been cycling for an average of 15 years. Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to determine the volume of the participants' gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, which are situated in and around the buttocks, as well as the percentage of fat infiltration within those muscles.

They found that the inactive group tended to be heavier than the cyclists. They also found that the cyclists had larger gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles than the males in the inactive group. On average, the cyclists had 7 percent less fat infiltration in the gluteus maximus and 5 percent less in the gluteus medius than the males in the inactive group.

Research suggests that physical inactivity promotes muscle fat infiltration and progressive muscle weakness, driving sarcopenia – the age-related loss of muscle tissue. However, exercise and appropriate nutritional support may forestall these muscle losses. Learn how exercise and dietary protein play roles in slowing age-related muscle loss in this episode featuring Dr. Stuart Phillips.

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