Neck and Trunk Muscle Strength in Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy Is Lower Than in Healthy Controls and Depends on Disease Type

Background: Neck and trunk muscle strength and relationship with motor function in individuals with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is not investigated well. Information on maximum muscle strength that children with SMA may develop considerably expands the possibilities of assessing the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment methods and therapeutic procedures. This study sought to assess neck and trunk muscle strength in patients with SMA and to compare it with values noted in healthy children.Methods: The study involved 56 individuals with SMA aged 5–16 not treated pharmacologically, including 9 patients with SMA type 1 (SMA1), 27 with SMA type 2 (SMA2), and 20 with SMA type 3 (SMA3). The control group included 111 healthy individuals aged 5–16. Neck and trunk muscle strength was assessed by means of a maximum voluntary isometric contraction method with the use of a handheld digital muscle tester MICROFET2. Moreover, relative strength was also calculated by standardising the maximum voluntary isometric contraction according to body mass. The Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U-test, and Spearman's rank correlation were used for statistical analysis.Results: The reliability of the neck and trunk muscle strength measurements with the handheld digital muscle tester was excellent with ICC > 0.9. The values of muscle strength in SMA groups were significantly lower than in the control group. The values of relative torque of the neck muscles expressed in percentage values calculated with regard to the control group were at the level of 47.6–51.6% in SMA1 group, 54.8–58.1% in SMA2 group and 80.6–90.3% in SMA3 group. The percentage values for upper and lower trunk muscle strength were at the level of 42.6–68.4% in SMA1 group, 56.9–75.4% in SMA2 group and 76.7–94.8% in SMA3 group.Conclusion: Handheld dynamometry provides reliable measures of neck and trunk muscle strength in SMA children. Neck and trunk muscle strength in children with SMA is lower than in healthy controls and depends on disease type, which confirms the theory based on clinical observations. Further, study is needed to investigate the effect of pharmacological treatment on the strength of the neck/trunk muscles, and relationship between neck and trunk muscle strength and motor capabilities.

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Trunk muscle strength and limitations in functioning in children and youth with spinal muscular atrophy

http://isrctn.com/ ◽

10.1186/isrctn63278972 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Agnieszka Stępień

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Spinal Muscular Atrophy ◽

Muscular Atrophy ◽

Trunk Muscle ◽

Children And Youth ◽

Trunk Muscle Strength

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Isokinetic Muscle Strength and Postural Sway of Recreationally Active Older Adults vs. Master Road Runners

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.623150 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Henrique V. Taveira ◽

Claudio A. B. de Lira ◽

Marilia S. Andrade ◽

Ricardo B. Viana ◽

Hirofumi Tanaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Postural Control ◽

Elderly People ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Average Power ◽

Trunk Muscle ◽

Trunk Muscles ◽

Control Group ◽

Physically Active ◽

Trunk Muscle Strength

Trunk muscle strength and control is an important prerequisite for everyday activities among elderly people decreasing the predisposition to falls. High levels of physical exercise performed by older athletes could offer benefits to core/trunk muscle strength and postural control compared with recreational physical activities and among elderly people with lower levels of physical activity. The present study aimed to compare trunk muscle strength and postural control of older running athletes vs. older physically active adults. Participants were master road runners (RUN, n = 15, six women, 64.3 ± 3.6 years) and physically active elderly (control group, CON, n = 15, six women, 65.4 ± 5.0 years) people that were submitted to the evaluations: esthesiometer, posturography (force plate), and isokinetic test (Biodex dynamometer) of trunk muscle extension and flexion. RUN presented higher values for relative peak torque of trunk extensor muscles at 60°/s (p = 0.046) and 180°/s (p = 0.007) and relative average power during trunk extension at 60°/s (p = 0.008) and 180°/s (p = 0.004) compared to CON. CON had a higher medial-lateral oscillation speed of the center of pressure in the stable condition with eyes closed (p = 0.004) compared to RUN. RUN presented higher isokinetic torque of extensor trunk muscles and better postural control than CON. This supposedly could help with postural control and balance and contribute to the prevention of falls among the elderly. The practice of running systematically by master athletes may partially explained our findings.

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A Randomized Controlled Trial on Posture Improvement and Trunk Muscle Strength by Round Shoulder Posture Improvement Exercise

International Journal of E-Health and Medical Communications ◽

10.4018/ijehmc.2018100101 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Eunsang Lee ◽

Won-je Choi ◽

Dae-in Jung ◽

Seungwon Lee

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Exercise Group ◽

Trunk Muscle ◽

Control Group ◽

Back Muscle Strength ◽

Stabilization Exercise ◽

Trunk Muscle Strength ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Exercise Period

The aim of this article was to examine investigates the effects of posture-improving exercises on round shoulder posture (RSP) and back muscle strength. 35 college students participated in this study and were measured for both shoulder height and muscle strength. After pretest, participants were divided into shoulder stabilization exercise group (SSEG, n1=12), antagonist strength exercise group (ASEG, n2=12), and control group (CG, n3=11). SSEG and ASEG exercised with a trainer 3 times a week for 30 minutes during 4 weeks. After completion of intervention, there was a significant difference in both shoulders and trunk muscle strength is significant difference for SSEG, ASEG and CG. This study has found that strengthening exercise is more effective in RSP reduction. However, it is the opinion of the researchers that the 4 week exercise period was not long enough to achieve significant results for other measurements. Further comparative studies related to the effects of strength exercises on RSP reduction, lung capacity, and trunk muscle strength is necessary.

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Relationship between trunk muscle strength and trunk muscle mass and thickness using bioelectrical impedance analysis and ultrasound imaging

Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering ◽

10.3233/bme-211218 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Ryo Miyachi ◽

Nana Koike ◽

Suzu Kodama ◽

Junya Miyazaki

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Ultrasound Imaging ◽

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Bioelectrical Impedance ◽

Impedance Analysis ◽

Trunk Muscle ◽

Trunk Muscles ◽

Trunk Muscle Strength

BACKGROUND: Although trunk muscles are involved in many important functions, evaluating trunk muscle strength is not an easy task. If trunk muscle mass and thickness could be used as indicators of trunk muscle strength, the burden of measurement would be reduced, but the relationship between trunk muscle strength and trunk muscle mass and thickness has not been clarified. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between trunk muscle strength and trunk muscle mass by bioelectrical impedance analysis and trunk muscle thickness by ultrasound imaging in healthy adults. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one healthy university students were included in this study. Trunk flexion/extension muscle strength and trunk muscle mass by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and trunk muscle thickness by ultrasound imaging were measured. RESULTS: Both trunk flexion strength and trunk extension strength were significantly correlated with trunk muscle mass and oblique and rectus abdominis muscle thickness. Multiple regression analysis showed that trunk extension muscle strength had an independent relationship with trunk muscle mass. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that trunk muscle mass or trunk muscle thickness can be used as an alternative means for evaluating trunk muscle strength, making the evaluation of trunk muscles less burdensome.

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