Associations between lower limb isometric torque, isokinetic torque, and explosive force with phases of reactive stepping in young, healthy adults

AbstractReactive stepping is one of the only strategies that can lead to successful stabilization following a large challenge to balance. Improving function of specific muscles associated with reactive stepping may improve features of reactive balance control. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine the relationship between lower limb muscle strength and explosive force with force plate-derived timing measures of reactive stepping. Nineteen young, healthy adults (27.6 ± 3.0 years of age; 10 women: 9 men) responded to 6 perturbations (~13-15% of body weight) using an anterior lean-and-release system (causing a forward fall), where they were instructed to recover balance in as few steps as possible. Foot-off, swing, and restabilization times were estimated from force plates. Peak isokinetic torque, isometric torque, and explosive force of the knee extensors/flexors and plantar/dorsiflexors were measured using isokinetic dynamometry. Correlations were run based on a priori hypotheses and corrected for the number of comparisons (Bonferroni) for each variable. Knee extensor explosive force was negatively correlated with swing time (r = −0.582, p = 0.009). Knee flexor peak isometric torque also showed a negative association with restabilization time (r = −0.459, p = 0.048), however this was not statistically significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. There was no significant relationship between foot-off time and knee or plantar flexor explosive force (p > 0.025). These findings suggest that there may be utility to identifying specific aspects of reactive step timing when studying the relationship between muscle strength and reactive balance control. Exercise training aimed at improving falls risk should consider targeting specific aspects of muscle strength depending on specific deficits in reactive stepping.

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The relationship between lower limb maximal and explosive strength and change of direction ability: Comparison of basketball and tennis players, and long-distance runners

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0256347 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. e0256347

Author(s):

Žiga Kozinc ◽

Darjan Smajla ◽

Nejc Šarabon

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Trunk Muscles ◽

Distance Runners ◽

Long Distance ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Tennis Players ◽

Change Of Direction ◽

Explosive Strength ◽

The Relationship

Change-of-direction (CoD) ability is an important determinant of athletic performance. Muscle strength is among the most important determinants of CoD ability. However, previous studies investigating the relationship between CoD ability and muscle strength focused mostly on flexor and extensor muscle groups, or used multi-joint exercises, such as jumps, squats or mid-thigh pull. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between CoD ability and strength of ankle, knee, hip and trunk maximal and explosive strength. The participants (n = 327), consisting of male and female basketball players, tennis players and long-distance runners completed isometric strength assessments and CoD testing (90° and 180° turn tests). The times of both CoD tests were associated with muscle strength (peak torques and the rate of torque development variables), with correlation coefficients being mostly weak to moderate (r = 0.2–0.6). Strength variables explained 33%, 62% and 48% of the variance in the 90° turn task, and 42%, 36% and 59% of the variance in the 180° turn task, in basketball players, long-distance runners and tennis players, respectively. Hip and trunk muscle strength variables were the most prevalent in the regression models, especially hip adduction and abduction strength. Our results suggest that the strength of several lower limb muscles, in particular of the hip abductors and adductors, and trunk muscles, but also hip rotators, extensors and flexors, as well as knee and ankle flexors and extensors should be considered when aiming to improve CoD performance.

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The effect of age on the association between stair descent balance control and lower limb muscle strength

Gait & Posture ◽

10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.07.226 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 73 ◽

pp. 562

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Balance Control ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle ◽

Stair Descent ◽

Effect Of Age

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Type II muscle fibre properties are not associated with balance recovery following large perturbations during walking in young and older adults

10.1101/2021.11.26.470167 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher McCrum ◽

Lotte Grevendonk ◽

Gert Schaart ◽

Esther Moonen-Kornips ◽

Johanna A Jörgensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Muscle Fibre ◽

Balance Control ◽

Type Ii ◽

Fibre Type Composition ◽

Fibre Properties ◽

Tissue Properties ◽

Reactive Balance ◽

Fibre Characteristics

Falls among older adults are often attributed to declining muscle strength with ageing. Associations between muscle strength and balance control have been reported, but the evidence for, and key mechanisms of resistance exercise in fall prevention are unclear. No studies have directly examined the relationship between muscle fibre characteristics and reactive balance control. Here, we address whether or not Type II muscle fibre characteristics associate with reactive balance during walking in young and older adults with varying muscle fibre type composition. We analyse muscle biopsy-derived fibre characteristics and stability during a treadmill-based walking perturbation (trip-like) task of healthy young adults, healthy, normally active older adults, trained older adults and physically impaired older adults. We find no significant associations between Type II muscle fibre properties and reactive balance during walking, indicating that practitioners and researchers should consider more than just the muscle tissue properties when assessing and intervening on fall risk.

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ISOMETRIC STRENGTH OF SIX LOWER LIMB MUSCLE GROUPS AND MOTOR SKILLS AMONG NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

Journal of Frailty & Aging ◽

10.14283/jfa.2015.70 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

F. BUCKINX ◽

J.L. CROISIER ◽

J.Y. REGINSTER ◽

J. PETERMANS ◽

E. GOFFART ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nursing Home ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle ◽

Muscle Groups ◽

The Relationship ◽

Isometric Muscle

This research aimed to assess the correlation between isometric muscle strength of the lower limb and motor skills. This is a cross sectional study performed among volunteer nursing home residents included in the SENIOR (Sample of Elderly Nursing home Individuals: an Observational Research) cohort. The present analysis focused on isometric muscle strength of 6 lower limb muscle groups (i.e. knee extensors, knee flexors, hip abductors, hip extensors, ankle flexors and ankle extensors), assessed using a validated hand-held dynamometer (i.e. the MicroFET2 device), and motor skills evaluated using the Tinetti test, the Timed Up and Go test, the Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB) and the walking speed. The relationship between all these parameters was tested by means of a multiple correlation, adjusted on age, sex and body mass index. 450 nursing home residents (69.8% of women) with a mean age of 83.1±9.4 years were included in this study. Our results showed a significant inverse correlation between lower limb muscle strength and the time required to perform the TUG test or gait speed, except for ankle flexors and ankle extensors. The relationship between the Tinetti test or the SPPB score, and lower limb muscle strength was significant, except for ankle flexors and ankle extensors. In conclusion, a positive association between lower limb muscle strength of the four main muscle groups and motor skills of the elderly nursing residents was found in this research. Therefore, special attention should be given to these muscle groups during rehabilitation programs.

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Architectural anatomy of the quadriceps and the relationship with muscle strength: An observational study utilising real‐time ultrasound in healthy adults

Journal of Anatomy ◽

10.1111/joa.13497 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 239 (4) ◽

pp. 847-855

Author(s):

Doa El‐Ansary ◽

Charlotte J. Marshall ◽

Joshua Farragher ◽

Raquel Annoni ◽

Ariane Schwank ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Observational Study ◽

Real Time ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

The Relationship

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The Relationship between Reactive Balance Control and Back and Hamstring Strength in Physiotherapists with Non-Specific Back Pain: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115578 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5578

Author(s):

Erika Zemková ◽

Eva Ďurinová ◽

Andrej Džubera ◽

Henrieta Horníková ◽

Juraj Chochol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Back Pain ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Balance Control ◽

Balance Test ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction ◽

Postural Responses ◽

Muscle Groups ◽

The Relationship ◽

Reactive Balance

Back pain is one of the most costly disorders among the worldwide working population. Within that population, healthcare workers are at a high risk of back pain. Though they often demonstrate awkward postures and impaired balance in comparison with healthy workers, there is no clear relationship between compensatory postural responses to unpredictable stimuli and the strength of related muscle groups, in particular in individuals with mild to moderate back pain. This paper presents a study protocol that aims to evaluate the relationship between peak anterior to peak posterior displacements of the center of pressure (CoP) and corresponding time from peak anterior to peak posterior displacements of the CoP after sudden external perturbations and peak force during a maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the back and hamstring muscles in physiotherapists with non-specific back pain in its early stages. Participants will complete the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire. Those that rate their back pain on the 0–10 Low Back Pain Scale in the ranges 1–3 (mild pain) and 4–6 (moderate pain) will be considered. They will undergo a perturbation-based balance test and a test of the maximal isometric strength of back muscles and hip extensors. We assume that by adding tests of reactive balance and strength of related muscle groups in the functional testing of physiotherapists, we would be able to identify back problems earlier and more efficiently and therefore address them well before chronic back disorders occur.

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The relationship between lower limb muscle strength and lower extremity function in HIV disease

South African Journal of Physiotherapy ◽

10.4102/sajp.v73i1.360 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peter C. Mhariwa ◽

Hellen Myezwa ◽

Mary L. Galantino ◽

Douglas Maleka

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle ◽

Plantar Flexors ◽

Lower Extremity Function ◽

Extremity Function ◽

The Relationship ◽

Hiv Negative

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negatively impacts muscle strength and function. This study aimed to establish the relationship between lower limb muscle strength and lower extremity function in HIV disease.Method: A cross-sectional study was undertaken with a sample of 113 HIV-positive participants. Lower limb muscle strength and self-reported function were established using dynamometry and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), respectively. Muscle strength and functional status were established in a subset of 30 HIV-negative participants to determine normative values.Results: Muscle strength for participants with HIV ranged from an ankle dorsiflexion mean of 9.33 kg/m2 to 15.79 kg/m2 in hip extensors. In the HIV-negative group, ankle dorsiflexors recorded 11.17 kg/m2, whereas hip extensors were the strongest, generating 17.68 kg/m2. In the HIV-positive group, linear regression showed a positive relationship between lower limb muscle strength and lower extremity function (r = 0.71, p = 0.00). Fifty per cent of the changes in lower extremity function were attributable to lower limb muscle strength. A simple linear regression model showed that lower limb ankle plantar flexors contributed the most to lower extremity function in this cohort, contrary to the literature which states that hip and trunk muscles are the most active in lower limb functional activities.Conclusion: Lower extremity strength impacts perceived function in individuals stabilised on antiretroviral therapy for HIV disease. These findings demonstrate that ankle plantar flexors produce more force over hip flexors. Careful attention should be paid to the implications for strength training in this population.

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