Isokinetic muscle strength and bone parameters in adolescent athletes: A scoping review

Muscle contractions generate forces acting on bones, triggering adaptation processes that enhance bone strength and resistance.

To collect, analyze, and summarize available evidence regarding the relationship between isokinetic muscle strength and bone health in adolescent athletes.

The protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework. Searches were carried out by two researchers in MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, SciELO, and SPORTDiscus on February 26, 2024, without date restriction.

Of the 567 records retrieved, 6 studies (1.3 %) were selected after duplicate removal, title, abstract, full-text screening, and application of inclusion criteria. All studies (n = 6) used knee extension and flexion peak torques as indicators of isokinetic muscle strength. Bone mineral density was the only bone parameter analyzed. Peak torque was significantly and positively associated with whole-body bone mineral density in 87.5 % (7/8) of the tested relationships, spine bone mineral density in 87.5 % (7/8), head bone mineral density in 37.5 % (3/8), upper limb bone mineral density in 90.0 % (18/20), and lower limb bone mineral density in 27.5 % (22/80) of the results. Regardless of the bone site, there was a greater number of significant relationshipbetween knee extension peak torque (37/62, 59.7 %) and bone mineral density than knee flexion peak torque (20/62, 32.3 %).

Peak torque showed positive relationships with bone mineral density at different sites in athletes of both sexes. Extension peak torque appears to be more frequently related to bone mineral density than flexion peak torque.