title: Changes in torso muscle endurance profiles in children aged 7 to 14 years: reference values.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish torso muscle endurance values in children aged 7 to 14 years, as well as ratios between torso extensors, flexors, and lateral torso flexors, with applications in clinical assessment, rehabilitation, physical education targets, and athletic training program designs. It was hypothesized that boys and girls mature differently in terms of torso muscle endurance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements of torso muscle endurance were performed by using 4 tests in healthy children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elementary school in Novi Sad, Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children from 1 elementary school (N=753, n=394 boys and n=359 girls) were grouped into 8 age strata.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four tests established isometric physical endurance: Biering-Sørensen test for extensor endurance, flexor endurance test, and right- and left-side bridge tests. The mean, ratio, standard deviation, and 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile scores were determined for each sex/age stratum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 2-way analysis of variance indicated that girls had higher mean endurance times for torso extension and torso flexion than did boys. For example, times measured by using Biering-Sørensen and right-side bridge tests were significantly greater for girls than for boys across all age groups (P<.023). Boys can sustain the side torso test longer than can girls. Furthermore, 3-dimensional torso muscle endurance is under significant impact of age. Tukey Honestly Significant Difference post hoc tests confirmed that within and between sex exist significant differences in mean endurance times in all age strata at the significance level P=.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both age and sex influence differences in torso endurance in children aged 7 to 14 years. These data of endurance times, their ratios, and percentiles in healthy subjects form a database that may be useful for providing training and rehabilitation targets.
authors.affiliation: Department for Biochemical and Medicine Sciences, State University of Novi Pazar, Republic of Serbia.
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dejanovic
authors.forename: Erin P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McGill
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000254:growth & development*; D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D060726:Torso / Q000254:growth & development*