Lower extremity muscle strength in 6- to 8-year-old children using hand-held dynamometry.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of the study were to establish isometric torque reference values for healthy 6- to 8-year-old children for 6 lower extremity muscles and determine the effects of gender, age, height, weight, and physical activity upon strength.


METHODS
A hand-held dynamometer was used to obtain force/torque values for 154 children.


RESULTS
Age-referenced force/torque and cutoff values are provided for each muscle group. Torque increased with age and height for all muscles and with weight for all muscles except knee extensors. No gender differences were found. Children who participated in 3 or more hours per week in organized sports were stronger in 4 of 6 muscles; the number of hours spent in active play did not affect torque.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides hand-held dynamometer strength reference values to enable clinicians to determine if clients of the same age, height, and weight have muscle weakness.
Macfarlane
Tammy S
TS
Oakland University, Program in Physical Therapy, Rochester, Michigan 48309, USA.
Larson
Cathy A
CA
Stiller
Christine
C
D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019415:Torque