Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 6, 2025
Performing In Vivo and Ex Vivo Electrical Impedance Myography in Rodents
Published on: June 8, 2022
Skeletal muscle quality in 6- and 7-y-old children assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis
Małgorzata Kołodziej1, Kamila Czajka1
1Department of Biostructure, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland.
Insights
Appendicular skeletal muscle quality in children can be effectively assessed using bioimpedance parameters like reactance and phase angle. These indicators are valuable for pediatric preventive health care and screening programs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric health
- Nutritional assessment
- Skeletal muscle physiology
Background:
- Skeletal muscle condition is vital for organismal health and nutritional status.
- Monitoring muscle quality is crucial in pediatric preventive care, especially post-pandemic.
- Understanding muscle function in children informs early health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate body composition and muscle strength in 6- and 7-year-old children.
- To analyze the relationship between muscle functional quality and bioimpedance parameters.
- To identify reliable impedance markers for assessing pediatric muscle health.
Main Methods:
- Study included 292 healthy children aged 6-7 years.
- Measured handgrip strength and bioimpedance parameters.
- Estimated appendicular skeletal muscle mass and calculated a muscle quality index.
- Assessed relationships using multiple regression analysis.
Main Results:
- Age differences impacted somatic parameters, body composition, and handgrip strength.
- Muscle mass differences were twice that of muscle strength differences between age groups.
- Reactance and impedance phase angle positively predicted muscle quality index.
- Adjusted fat mass showed a negative correlation with muscle quality.
Conclusions:
- Reactance and phase angle are reliable indicators of appendicular skeletal muscle quality in healthy children.
- These impedance parameters show potential for use in pediatric preventive health care.
- Bioimpedance analysis offers a valuable screening tool for pediatric muscle health.
Objectives:
The condition of skeletal muscles is a key marker of the nutritional status and function of an organism. It is necessary to monitor muscle quality in basic pediatric preventive health care, especially due to the increase in negative health behaviors during a pandemic. The aims of this study were to assess body composition and muscle strength as well as to analyze the relationship between muscle functional quality and impedance parameters in 6- and 7-y-old children.
Methods:
The study involved 292 healthy 6- and 7-y-old children. Handgrip strength and bioimpedance parameters were measured. Body composition components, including appendicular skeletal muscle mass, were estimated. Handgrip strength in relation to the appendicular skeletal muscles mass was adopted as an indicator of the muscle functional quality. The relationship between the muscle quality index and impedance parameters was assessed by multiple regression.
Results:
A 1-y age difference between the children differentiated not only basic somatic parameters, body composition, and handgrip strength, but also the electrical properties of the tissues. The relative difference in muscle mass between younger and older children was twice that of the muscle strength. A significant regression model of the muscle quality index was obtained, in which reactance and impedance phase angle were strong positive predictors. Adjusted fat mass negatively correlated with the muscle quality.
Conclusions:
Reactance and phase angle are good indicators of the quality of appendicular skeletal muscle in healthy children and can be potentially used in pediatric preventive health care and screening.
