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Childhood muscle morphology and strength: alterations over six months of growth

Christian A Pitcher1, Catherine M Elliott, Sîan A Williams

  • 1School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, M408, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Western Australia.

Muscle & Nerve
|August 22, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Childhood muscle growth is closely linked to strength gains. This study shows that the relationship between muscle size and strength in children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric exercise science
  • Human growth and development
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Understanding the relationship between muscle size and strength is crucial for child development.
  • Previous research has not fully elucidated this relationship during prepubescent growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the nature and stability of the strength-size relationship for knee flexors and extensors.
  • To analyze this relationship over a 6-month period in growing children.

Main Methods:

  • 19 typically developing children (5-11 years) were assessed twice over 6 months.
  • Lower limb magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measured muscle volume (MV) and anatomical cross-sectional area (aCSA).
  • Isokinetic dynamometry measured isometric and isokinetic strength.

Main Results:

  • Strong correlations (r=0.84-0.90) were observed between muscle size and strength for knee flexors and extensors.
  • The strength-to-muscle size ratio remained consistent during 6 months of prepubescent growth.

Conclusions:

  • Increases in thigh muscle strength were proportional to increases in muscle size.
  • Muscle growth appears to be a key factor in strength development during childhood.
Abstract

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