title: Concentric and eccentric quadriceps torque in pre-adolescent males.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of using the Kin Com (Chattecx Corp., Chattanooga, TN) isokinetic machine to measure concentric and eccentric quadriceps torque in a group of 12 healthy male volunteers aged 10-12 years. Each individual was tested by an experienced physiotherapist using a 60 degree per second velocity mode according to our standardized protocol. Average and peak torque values for concentric and eccentric contractions of the quadriceps were recorded; based upon the best of three maximum effort trials on each lower extremity. Retesting was performed on a randomly selected sub-group in an identical manner two weeks later. Our results showed no statistically significant difference between the original and retest values using the method error of repeated measurements and paired t-test analyses. Eccentric peak torque was greater on average than concentric. This was significant with p-values of 0.01 for the non-dominant quadriceps and 0.002 for the dominant side (paired t-test). There was no significant difference between the dominant and non-dominant sides. In conclusion, eccentric muscle testing has been reliably quantitated for the first time in children. This study has shown a practical and reproducible method of quantitative muscle strength assessment.
authors: Alberta Children's Hospital Child Health Centre, Calgary.
authors: N G
authors: NG
authors: Mohtadi
authors: G N
authors: GN
authors: Kiefer
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Tedford
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Watters
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013848:Thigh; D013997:Time Factors