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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Stature is an essential predictor of muscle strength in children

Authors: Jean-Yves Hogrel, Valérie Decostre, Corinne Alberti, Aurélie Canal, Gwenn Ollivier, Emilie Josserand, Ilham Taouil, Dominique Simon

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

Children with growth retardation or short stature generally present with lower strength than children of the same chronological age. The aim of the study was to establish if strength was dependent on variables related to stature in a population of healthy children and to propose practical predictive models for the muscle functions tested. A secondary aim was to test for any learning effects concerning strength measured at two successive visits by children.

Methods

Hand grip, elbow flexion and extension, and knee flexion and extension were measured by fixed dynamometry in 96 healthy subjects (47 girls and 49 boys, aged from 5 to 17 years).

Results

For the present paediatric population, muscle strength was highly dependent on height. Predictive models are proposed for the muscle functions tested. No learning effect between the first and the second visit was detected for any of the muscle functions tested.

Conclusions

This work shows that strength measurements using fixed dynamometry are reliable in children when using appropriate standardization of operating procedures. It underlines the particular relationship between body stature and muscle strength. Predictive equations may help with assessing the neuromuscular involvement in children suffering from various disorders, particularly those affecting their stature.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Stature is an essential predictor of muscle strength in children
Authors
Jean-Yves Hogrel
Valérie Decostre
Corinne Alberti
Aurélie Canal
Gwenn Ollivier
Emilie Josserand
Ilham Taouil
Dominique Simon
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-13-176

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