Analysis of Isokinetic Peak Torque in Hamstrings and Quadriceps and Its Association with Flexibility and Strength in Healthy School-Aged Children
Description
The present study provides valuable insight into the development of muscular strength and flexibility in healthy school aged children, specifically focusing on the hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups. Isokinetic testing revealed a clear dominance of quadriceps strength over the hamstrings across all participants, highlighting a consistent strength imbalance common in this age group. The study demonstrated that age is a significant predictor of muscle strength, with both hamstring and quadriceps strength showing strong positive correlations with increasing age. The peak torque values increased significantly with age, and the regression analysis confirmed that age accounts for a high percentage of the variability in muscle strength approximately 89% for hamstrings and 86% for quadriceps. Flexibility, as measured by the Toe Touch Test, displayed more individual variation and did not correlate as strongly with strength measures, suggesting that factors influencing flexibility may differ from those driving strength development. Furthermore, the internal consistency of isokinetic measurements was remarkably high, confirming the reliability of the BioMat Easy-Torque dynamometer in this population. These findings emphasize the importance of routine isokinetic assessment in pediatric populations to identify muscle imbalances early and to inform interventions aimed at optimizing musculoskeletal development during critical growth periods.
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A cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of 60 healthy school-going children aged between 11 and 15 years at the Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. Participants were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria ensuring they were free from musculoskeletal or neurological conditions that could affect performance. Isokinetic muscle strength of the hamstrings and quadriceps was assessed using the BioMat Easy-Torque dynamometer at two angular velocities 60°/s and 120°/s—measuring peak torque values during concentric muscle contractions. Flexibility of the posterior chain, particularly the hamstring muscles, was evaluated using the Toe Touch Test. Functional strength and endurance were measured using the Sit-to-Stand Test, assessing lower limb muscular endurance over a fixed duration. All tests were explained and demonstrated prior to data collection to ensure consistent effort and understanding across participants. The collected data were statistically analyzed using Spearman correlation to explore relationships among variables, and multiple regression analysis was employed to determine the predictive value of age, flexibility, and endurance on isokinetic strength outcomes.
Institutions
- Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation