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Results for “Muscle Strength”

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At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Muscle strength, pain, and disease activity explain individual subdimensions of the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index, especially in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the extent to which muscle strength and performance, pain, and disease activity are associated with the total Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index and its subdimensions in male and female patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: HAQ for functional capacity was completed by 135 patients with rheumatoid arthritis referred for orthopaedic surgery (74% women; mean (SD) age 62 (10) years; disease duration 19 (13) years, 70% positive for rheumatoid factor). Knee extension, trunk extension and flexion, grip strength, walking speed, and sit-to-stand test were measured to mirror physical function. Radiographs of hands and feet, pain, and the modified 28 joint disease activity score (DAS28) were also assessed. RESULTS: Mean total HAQ was 1.08 (0.68) in women and 0.67 (0.70) in men (p = 0.0031). Women had greater disability than men in five of the eight subdimensions of the HAQ. Grip strength was 48%, knee extension strength 46%, trunk extension strength 54%, and trunk flexion strength 43% lower in women than in men. Knee extension strength was inversely correlated with walking time (r = -0.63 (95% confidence interval, -0.73 to -0.51)) and with sit-to-stand test (r = -0.47 (-0.60 to -0.31)). In an ordered logistic regression analysis in female rheumatoid patients, DAS28, pain, knee extension strength, and grip strength were associated with the total HAQ disability index. CONCLUSIONS: Women reported greater disability than men both in the total HAQ and in the majority of its eight subdimensions. In addition to disease activity and pain, muscle strength has a major impact on disability especially in female rheumatoid patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Muscle strength and tibolone: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of tibolone, a tissue-specific compound with a mixed (estrogenic, progestogenic and androgenic) hormonal profile, on skeletal muscle strength in a group of healthy postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Randomised, parallel group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre trial conducted between August 1997 and July 1999. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-five healthy women, between one and 15 years postmenopausal, (mean [SD] age, 54.2 [4.7] years) recruited from local paper advertisements. Participants were randomly assigned to 2.5 mg tibolone or to identically appearing placebo pills daily for 12 months, taken orally in the morning. METHODS: Both maximal handgrip strength, representing upper body strength, and maximal quadriceps strength, representing lower body strength, were measured isometrically. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Treatment effect estimates (between group differences) in handgrip strength and isometric knee extension at last visit. RESULTS: Tibolone significantly (P = 0.04) increased handgrip strength compared with placebo (difference 0.99 kg, [95% CI 0.1-1.9]). No significant treatment effect (P = 0.61) was observed in isometric knee extension strength. Isometric strength adjusted for body mass index resulted in a trend favouring tibolone (P = 0.06). Individual trend analysis showed a significant difference in rate of change throughout the year (6.8% [95% CI 2.1-10.7]) favouring tibolone. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of tibolone increased handgrip strength in postmenopausal women compared with placebo. A trend indicating a positive effect in isometric knee extension strength adjusted for body mass index was observed. Tibolone seems to mitigate the menopause-related decline in muscle strength.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2006

Relationship between inspiratory muscle strength and cough capacity in cervical spinal cord injured patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective single centre study. OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary rehabilitation focuses on improving the expiratory muscle function in order to increase the reduced cough capacity in patients with cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI). However, an improvement in the inspiratory function is also important for coughing effectively. Therefore, this study was to examine the significance of the inspiratory muscle strength on the cough capacity in the patients with a cervical SCI. SETTING: SCI unit, Yonsei Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul, Korea. METHODS: The vital capacity (VC), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured. Moreover, the unassisted peak cough flow (PCF) and assisted PCF under three conditions were evaluated. RESULTS: All three assisted cough methods showed a significantly higher value than the unassisted method (P < 0.001). The VC correlated with the voluntary cough capacity and the MIP (R = 0.749) correlated more significantly with the VC than the MEP (R = 0.438) (P < 0.01). The MIP showed a higher correlation with both the unassisted PCF and all three assisted PCFs than the MEP (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The management of the inspiratory muscle strength should be considered in the pulmonary rehabilitation at cervical SCI patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Muscle strength assessment in polymyositis and dermatomyositis evaluation of the reliability and clinical use of a new, quantitative, easily applicable method.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and the reliability of a quantitative method of maximal isometric strength measurement for the assessment of patients with myositis in clinical practice and research. METHODS: Three observers independently examined the strength of 13 muscle groups of 7 patients with stable polymyositis and dermatomyositis (PM/DM) using a handheld pull-gauge. Reliability was assessed following a balanced random 3-way cross classification with interactions and using the analysis of variance method. Serial followup strength data for 2 patients were compared to change in creatinine kinase (CK) levels. RESULTS: All measurements could be performed without causing pain to the patients. One single test including 13 muscle groups was done in 7 min or less. Both intra and interobserver correlations were strong and significant for all muscle groups. The intraobserver reliability ranged from 0.88 for elbow extensors to 0.98 for knee extensors and cervical spine flexors. The interobserver reliability ranged from 0.81 for elbow flexors to 0.98 for knee extensors and cervical spine flexors. The followup of 2 cases yielded moderate to strong correlations of serial strength measurements with CK levels. CONCLUSION: Serial measurement of isometric muscle strength with a handheld pull-gauge is a feasible, inexpensive, time efficient and reliable method and may provide additional quantitative information in the clinical assessment of patients with myositis.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Thigh-muscles strength training, dance exercise, dynamometry, and anthropometry in professional ballerinas.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of 12 weeks of quadriceps and hamstring strength training on torque levels after a dance exercise and on selected anthropometric parameters. The sample consisted of 22 (ages, 25 +/- 1.3 years) full-time professional ballerinas who were randomly assigned into experimental (n = 12) and control (n = 10) groups. A dance routine designed to cause fatigue within 5 minutes, isokinetic dynamometry, and anthropometric assessments were conducted before and after strength training in both groups. Before strength training, the dance routine resulted in significant reductions of hamstring (p < 0.001) and quadriceps (p < 0.001) peak torques in both subject groups. However, after strength training, only control subjects demonstrated such torque decrements (p < 0.001) after the dance routine. Furthermore, the experimental group revealed greater knee extension (119 vs. 138 N.m; p < 0.001) and flexion (60 vs. 69 N.m; p < 0.001) torques, smaller sum of skinfolds (33.6 vs. 27.8 mm; p < 0.01), more fat-free mass (37.7 vs. 39.4 kg; p < 0.05), but unchanged body mass (p > 0.05) and thigh circumferences (p > 0.05). A negative relationship (p < 0.001) was found between initial strength levels and improvements measured at the end of the 12-week program. These results suggest that supplementary strength training for hamstring and quadriceps muscles is beneficial to professional ballerinas and their dancing; weaker individuals are more likely to benefit from such regimens than their stronger counterparts, whereas increases in thigh-muscle strength do not alter selected aesthetic components.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Muscle strength, working capacity and effort in patients with fibromyalgia.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the physical capacity and effort in patients with fibromyalgia. Muscle strength and the coefficient of variation of the strength measurements of 181 female fibromyalgia patients and 126 healthy females were compared. These measurements and ergometer exercise capacity, work status and psychometric scoring (SCL-90-R) were correlated. The fibromyalgia patients exhibited significant reduction in voluntary muscle strength of the knee and elbow, flexors and extensors in the order of 20-30%. However, the coefficient of variation was higher among patients, thus indicating lower effort. The physical performance during an ergometer test corresponded to a maximal oxygen consumption of 21 ml/kg-1 x min-1. The maximal increase in heart rate was only 63% (44-90%) of the predicted increase. Degree of effort or physical capacity did not correlate to psychometric scores. Work status was related to psychometric scoring, but not to physical capacity or effort. In conclusion, we found a low degree of effort but near normal physical capacity in the fibromyalgia patients.

Elbow Joint↗

PubMed2003

The effects of a calisthenics and a light strength training program on lower limb muscle strength and body composition in mature women.

This study evaluated and compared the effectiveness of an aerobics-calisthenics (A-CAL) and an aerobics/weight training (A-WT) programs on lower limb strength and body fat (%). Thirty-five adult women (age 42.1 +/- 5.2 years) were randomly assigned to A-CAL (n = 14), A-WT (n = 14), or a control group (n = 7). The A-CAL and A-WT trained 3 days per week for 10 weeks. Maximal bilateral isometric and isokinetic knee extension (KEXT) and flexion (KFLEX) torque, squat jump (SJ), and body fat (%) were measured before and immediately after training. The results revealed nonsignificant differences between A-CAL and A-WT (p > 0.05). Both A-CAL and A-WT improved SJ (p < 0.001). A-WT increased isometric torque of KEXT and KFLEX (p < 0.05), isokinetic torque of KFLEX (p < 0.05), and decreased body fat (%) (p < 0.05) when compared with controls. In summary, the application of a 10-week light-weight training program improved selected strength parameters of healthy women, compared with controls, but the effectiveness of the calisthenics exercises as an independent form of strength training is dubious.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Effects of a rehabilitation nursing program on muscle strength, flexibility, self efficacy and health related quality of life in disabilities].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a rehabilitation nursing program(RNP) for persons with disabilities. METHOD: a quasi-experimental pretest and post test study was used to examine the changes of patient's muscle strength, flexibility, self efficacy and health related quality of life at the completion of an 8-week education and physical exercise with a Thera-Band and Exercise Ball course. The subjects consisted of 40 adults who were disabled. Twenty-two experimental and 18 control subjects completed pre and post-test measures. Outcome variables were flexibility, hand grip, elbow flexor and extensor, knee flexor and extensor, self efficacy and quality of life. Independent t-test and ANCOVA were used to examine group differences by using SPSS 12.0. RESULT: Mean comparisons of the change scores revealed that the experimental group increased significantly in knee extremity flexor(p=0.035), extensor(p=0.039), flexibility(p=0.008), self efficacy(p=0.000), and quality of life(p=0.000). No significant group differences were found in each patient's hand grip, elbow flexor and extensor. CONCLUSION: RNP can improve lower extremity flexibility, muscle strength, self efficacy and health related quality of life in people with disabilities. The intervention to tailor exercise and education to the unique needs of the disability was suggested for further study.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Comparison of clinical and objective methods of assessing trunk muscle strength--an experimental approach.

An objective method was used to evaluate the validity of the sit-up, prone trunk extension, and double leg lowering clinical tests. Normal men and women and patients with a history of backache served as subjects. The vast majority of the subjects were able to perform the Grade 1 level, which was the highest resistance imposed by the sit-up and prone extension tests. The double leg lower was superior to the other two clinical tests but was able to identify only broad differences in strength capability. In the main, the subjective clinical tests were poor discriminators and seemed to lack the range of resistance necessary to be definitively useful as methods of assessing trunk muscle strength and may not provide appropriate resistance for improving trunk muscle strength in most patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The efficacy of EMG-biofeedback training on quadriceps muscle strength in patients after arthroscopic meniscectomy.

AIMS: In 40 patients, we attempted to investigate the efficacy of electromyography-biofeedback (EMG-B) on quadriceps muscle strength after arthroscopic meniscectomy. METHODS: The patients were randomly divided into two groups each consisting of 20 subjects. For the control group, a classical exercise program was given (five sessions of EMG-B application for 2 weeks postoperatively). Range of motions, Lysholm knee score, EMG electrical activity values of vastus medialis obliques (VMO), and vastus lateralis (VL) were measured pre- and postoperatively on the 3rd and 14th day, and at the 6th week. RESULTS: When the ranges of motion values were compared, a significant difference (for average values of knee flexion angle) was found on the 14th day and 6th week in favour of biofeedback group (p<0.05). When Lysholm knee scores on the 14th day and 6th week were compared in the control and biofeedback groups, and maximum contraction and average contraction values of VMO, VL muscles were compared with operated/non-operated %age ratios, there was a statistically significant difference in favour of the biofeedback group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that EMG-B was an effective treatment modality in improving quadriceps muscle strength after arthroscopic meniscectomy surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Reliability and smallest detectable change determination for serratus anterior muscle strength and endurance tests.

The purposes of this study were to determine inter-tester reliability, one-week test-retest reliability and smallest detectable difference (SDD) of serratus anterior muscle strength and endurance tests. Asymptomatic subjects were tested on an apparatus designed by the investigators. During strength testing, subjects performed isometric contractions recorded by a hand-held dynamometer. For endurance testing, subjects held a dumbbell of 15% of their body weight and performed repetitions until they became fatigued. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for the strength test revealed good inter-tester reliability (ICC2,3 = .90-.93) and good one-week test-retest reliability (ICC2,3 = .83-.89). For the endurance test, ICCs showed good inter-tester reliability (ICC2,1 = .71-.76) but moderate one-week test-retest reliability (ICC2,1 = .59-.62). The SDDs at 68% confidence level ranged from 22.7 to 39.2 newtons for the strength test, and 11 to 20 repetitions for the endurance test. In summary, the technique used in the study is reliable for quantifying the SA muscle strength.

Electromyography↗

PubMed1993

Influence of recreational activity and muscle strength on ulnar bending stiffness in men.

Bone bending stiffness (modulus of elasticity [E] x moment of inertia [I]), a measure of bone strength, is related to its mineral content (BMC) and geometry and may be influenced by exercise. We evaluated the relationship of habitual recreational exercise and muscle strength to ulnar EI, width, and BMC in 51 healthy men, 28-61 yr of age. BMC and width were measured by single photon absorptiometry and EI by mechanical resistance tissue analysis. Maximum biceps strength was determined dynamically (1-RM) and grip strength isometrically. Subjects were classified as sedentary (S) (N = 13), moderately (M) (N = 18), or highly active (H) (N = 20) and exercised 0.2 +/- 0.2; 2.2 +/- 1.3; and 6.8 +/- 2.3 h.wk-1 (P < 0.001). H had greater biceps (P < 0.0005) and grip strength (P < 0.05), ulnar BMC (P < 0.05), and ulnar EI (P = 0.01) than M or S, who were similar. Amount of activity correlated with grip and biceps strength (r = 0.47 and 0.49; P < 0.001), but not with bone measurements, whereas muscle strength correlated with both EI and BMC (r = 0.40-0.52, P < 0.005). EI also correlated significantly with both BMC and ulnar width (P < 0.0001). Ulnar width and biceps strength were the only independent predictors of EI (r2 = 0.67, P < 0.0001). We conclude that levels of physical activity sufficient to increase arm strength influence ulnar bending stiffness.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2006

Combinatory effects of high-intensity-strength training and sensorimotor training on muscle strength.

It has been shown in classical strength training studies using high loads that improvements in rate of force development are mainly due to adaptations in the intramuscular coordination. Adaptations following sensorimotor training were also characterized by improvements in the rate of force development during maximum voluntary isometric contraction. The purpose of the present study was to investigate neuromuscular adaptations of combined sensorimotor and classical strength training. Eighteen subjects were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 (SMT-HST) had to perform a period of sensorimotor training at first and a high-intensity strength training afterwards. Group 2 (HST-SMT) performed the high intensity strength training at first and the sensorimotor training after. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction and neuromuscular activation were measured at three occasions: Before training, after the first, and after the second period. The results after the first period confirmed the positive effects of both training regimen on rate of force development (13 % [SMT-HST] and 27 % [HST-SMT], p < 0.05) and on maximum strength (9 % [HST-SMT] and 12 % [SMT-HST], p < 0.05) during maximum voluntary contraction. Improvements caused by sensorimotor training could only be achieved, when it was performed at first. It is supposed that classical strength training with high loads basically improves the mechanical efficiency of the effectors, whereas sensorimotor training alters the afferent input on the central nervous system. In combination, the sensorimotor training can have preconditioning effects on the strength training. A combination of both training methods can thus be recommended, if the sensorimotor training is performed at first.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2001

A method to reduce the number of measured parameters when using isokinetic muscle strength as a clinical indicator in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The aim of the study was to present a method enabling a reduction of the number of measurements when quantifying isokinetic muscle strength (IMS), and to describe an expression for IMS which is independent of measuring conditions. IMS is a measure of muscle strength used to categorise patients and to assess changes over time. IMS measurements involve one or several measures of peak torque at different chosen angular velocities. Comparisons between studies are difficult and an expression of IMS independent of measuring conditions is needed. Thirty-six women with rheumatoid arthritis were followed for 1 year. IMS was measured on five occasions on both knees at seven angular velocities, giving 10 sets of peak-torque data for each patient. The log[peak-torque]-angular-velocity diagram showed a linear relationship. From this, the peak-torque value at the chosen angular velocity of 30 degrees/s (IMS30) was estimated for each test and the uncertainties involved were quantified. IMS30 is a reliable parameter when comparing effort between knees, visits and patients, and may be based on three sets of data only. IMS may be expressed by a single value, IMS30, representing the fitted line in a log[peak-torque]-angular-velocity diagram. The regression line may be fitted by three or more angular velocities. In principle, IMS30 is independent of the chosen angular velocity, which makes it possible to use an estimated value as IMS30 to compare results, studies and centres in between.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed1985

Simple method for measurement of lower extremity muscle strength.

A simple, rapid, reproducible method for quantification of lower extremity muscle strength was standardized. The time needed to stand 10 times from a standard chair was recorded in 139 healthy subjects, aged 20 to 85 years (77 men, 62 women). Reproducibility was 6.8 percent (+/- 3.4 percent). Neither height nor weight was related to time in either sex. Weight was related to time (p less than 0.05) after adjusting for age, but this effect was slight compared with the effect of age alone. A highly significant (p less than 0.0001) relationship between time and age was found in both sexes. Younger men performed better than younger women, although this difference was lost in the older age groups. The results of this simple test correlated well with published data on the strength of knee flexor and extensor muscles in groups of men and women of various ages. This method was used to evaluate serially six consecutive patients with classic polymyositis or dermatomyositis. Improvement after treatment with prednisone used alone or in combination with azathioprine or methotrexate was found in all cases.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

Voluntary isometric muscle strength of patients undergoing rehabilitation following fractures of the lower limb.

Isometric muscle strength was measured in 32 servicemen recovering from fractures of the lower limb. At the time when patients were admitted for rehabilitation there were marked reductions of strength in the injured limb of muscles acting at the hip, knee and ankle joints. Marked improvement of strength occurred during rehabilitation, but there were still significant differences between the limbs at the time of discharge from the rehabilitation unit.

Ankle Joint↗

PubMed1997

Effects of microcurrent treatment on perceived pain and muscle strength following eccentric exercise.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of low-volt, microamperage stimulation (LVMAS) on perceived pain and muscle strength following an intense bout of eccentric exercise. DESIGN AND SETTING: An experimental pretest-posttest control group design was used for the study. The experiment was conducted in the Lower Extremity Research Laboratory at Georgia State University. SUBJECTS: Twelve females and six males (mean age 27 +/- 5 yr). MEASUREMENTS: Subjects, randomly assigned to experimental (EXP, n = 6), sham (SHAM, n = 6), and control (CON, n = 6) groups, were tested before, and at 24, 48, and 72 hours following, an intense bout of eccentric exercise. RESULTS: Three two-way (group x time) analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with repeated measures on the last factor were used to analyze the data. A significant time main effect was identified. Results indicated that perceived pain was not reduced in the EXP group as compared with the SHAM and CON groups. Muscle strength in the EXP group did not return to the initial baseline measure more rapidly than in the SHAM and CON groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the use of LVMAS alone is not effective in reducing pain and increasing muscle function following an exhaustive bout of eccentric exercise.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1983

Thigh muscle strength in below-knee amputees.

The aim of this investigation has been to study the magnitude of the reduction of thigh muscle strength of below-knee amputees and to correlate the strength to the degree of atrophy and to the clinical function. Thirty-two below-knee amputees participated in examinations of the isometric and isokinetic knee extension and flexion strength using an isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex II). The atrophy was evaluated by measuring the mean muscle fibre area on muscle biopsies of the vastus lateralis and the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles measured with computed tomography. The isometric and isokinetic knee extension and flexion strength in the amputated leg with and without prosthesis was significantly lower than the strength in the non-amputated leg (p less than 0.01). Knee extension strength was significantly correlated to the mean muscle fibre area of the vastus lateralis. There was no correlation between strength and the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps muscles. There was, however, a significant correlation between the side differences (amputated leg versus non-amputated leg) in isometric knee extension and flexion strength and the side differences in cross-sectional areas. The reduction in isometric and isokinetic knee extension and flexion strength in the amputated leg both with and without prosthesis compared with the non-amputated leg was larger than the reduction in cross-sectional areas of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles and in muscle fibre areas of the vastus lateralis. This indicates that besides muscle atrophy changes in motor unit recruitment pattern may be of importance for the reduction in muscle strength. Isometric and isokinetic knee extension and flexion strength values in the amputated leg with prosthesis were significantly correlated to step length, maximal walking speed and circumference of the thigh. These results indicate that below-knee amputees with a better preserved thigh muscle strength have a good walking capacity.

Adult↗