A cross-sectional survey of upper and lower limb strength in boys and girls during childhood and adolescence

Abstract

Changes in height and weight during childhood and adolescence are well documented, yet there is comparatively little comprehensive information about muscular development during this time. In a cross-sectional survey standing height, body weight and isometric strength of the elbow flexor and quadriceps muscles have been measured in 267 boys and 284 girls aged from 5 to 17 years. All the children were from private London schools. The mean heights and weights for each age group were between the 50th and 75th centiles for British children. The strength of both muscle groups in the boys and girls rose steadily in each age group from 8 to 12 years, after which there was a rapid increase in strength of both the quadriceps and elbow flexors in boys which continued even when growth in height and body weight had virtually ceased. In the pre-adolescent phase of growth, muscle strength of the elbow flexors and quadriceps increased as a function of height squared and cubed respectively, suggesting that stretch as a result of elongation of the long bones, and for the quadriceps, loading, may be the primary stimuli during this phase. In the postpubertal phase some other stimulus, such as a direct action of hormones on the muscle, must be responsible for the continued increase in strength in the boys.

Limb bone bilateral asymmetry: variability and commonality among modern humans

“…Females also have lower correlations among all asymmetries compared with males, both within and between elements. The greater male asymmetry in humeral diaphyseal breadths could be a result of generally greater mechanical loadings on the upper limb bones in males, related to greater muscular development during adolescence (Parker et al, 1990;Round et al, 1999) or possibly to more marked asymmetry in upper-limb-use among males (on average). Behavioral evidence for sex differences in upper limb preference are mixed, and potentially confounded by cultural factors (Perelle and Ehrman, 1994;Raymond and Pontier, 2004).…”

Is hydrotherapy cost-effective? A randomised controlled trial of combined hydrotherapy programmes compared with physiotherapy land techniques in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

“…73 Standardised antigravity limb positions and placement of the myometer head were used to test each muscle group. [73][74][75] Three maximal contractions were performed for each muscle group and the highest strength measurement was recorded for analysis…”

Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype affects the response of human skeletal muscle to functional overload

“…Baseline measurements were taken on three occasions, each 1 week apart, and twice post-training, 3 days apart. The primary strength measure was unilateral isometric leg extension strength at a joint angle of 1.57 rad assessed with a conventional strength-testing chair (Parker et al 1990). For the three baseline tests this measure had a coefficient of variation of 3.5%.…”