ABSTRACT
Background: Strength measurement is an essential component of assessment in rehabilitation. However, there may be many factors that may alter muscle performance, among which anthropometric values play a significant role. Therefore, the objective of this study is to find out the correlation between thigh anthropometric measurements with the knee isokinetic muscle performance. Methods: Eighteen young, healthy male adults, whose mean age was of 21.22 ± 1.39 were included. Anthropometric measurements like height, weight, thigh girth, and femoral length were correlated with isokinetic strength of knee flexor and extensor muscles. The variables collected in isokinetic measurements; used for analysis were peak torque at three angular velocities of 60°/s, 120°/s, and 180°/s. Results: The Pearson correlation between the thigh girth and isokinetic peak torque at angular velocities of 600/s, 1200/s, and 1800/s for knee extensors were, r = 0.52, 0.69 and 0.73 whereas for knee flexors it was r = 0.53, 0.24 and 0.44 respectively which showed moderate to high correlation when the level of significance was kept at 0.05. However, the correlation between the femoral length and isokinetic peak torque at three angular velocities for knee muscles showed a weak positive correlation only. Conclusion: Study results show that there is a moderate to strong positive correlation exists between thigh girth and isokinetic peak torque of knee musculature, whereas there is only a weak correlation exists between femoral length and isokinetic peak torque of knee musculature. Therefore, it reveals that the length of the extremity does not seem to influence the outcome of isokinetic measurement values. In contrast, the girth of the muscle can influence the outcome of the isokinetic measurement values, especially for the knee joint.
ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: This study investigated the effect of combined plant-based protein supplementation and resistance training on muscular strength, blood markers of protein catabolism, immune function, and bone metabolism in sedentary adult males. Methods: In this randomised, double-blinded study, 28 healthy males aged 19 – 29 years old were equally assigned into four groups: a combined plant-based protein with resistance training (PBPEX), plant-based protein alone (PBP), resistance training alone (EX) and control (C). Mode of resistance training was flat barbell press, machine shoulder press, wide grip lateral pull-down, seated cable row, barbell back squat, leg press and leg extension. The 8-week resistance training involved three sets of 60-70% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM) at 4-6 repetition/set/mode per session, three sessions/week. Participants in PBPEX and PBP groups consumed a plant-based protein supplement consisted of 9.8 g soy and pea protein for seven days/week. Results: PBPEX showed significant increases (p<0.01) in the knee and shoulder flexion peak torque compared to EX groups, respectively. PBP showed a significantly higher level (p<0.05) of serum urea, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) compared to other groups. There were no changes in immune function and bone metabolism markers between pre- and post-exercise in all groups. Conclusions: These findings implied that a combination of plant-based protein supplementation and resistance training elicited greater beneficial effects on muscular strength than resistance training alone and plant-based protein supplementation alone. Therefore, combined plant-based protein with resistance training may be recommended in planning exercise and nutritional programme for sedentary male adults.
ABSTRACT
Objective To determine key muscles during muscle strength training of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by studying the correlation of KOA symptoms and disease stages with knee extensor/flexor strength. Methods Ninety-nine community volunteers were recruited and stratified into healthy group, single KOA group, and bilateral KOA group. The relationship between isokinetic extensor/flexor strength and KOA symptom, full-body aerobic exercise capacity, joint function were analyzed by knee isokinetic muscle strength test, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), 6-minute walk test, and CS-30 test. ResultsKnee isokinetic extensor peak torque of the symptomatic leg was significantly lower than that of the asymptomatic leg in single KOA group. There were significant differences in knee isokinetic extensor/flexor peak torque of both the severe and mild symptomatic leg in bilateral KOA group. Knee isokinetic extensor peak torque in bilateral KOA group was significantly lower than that in healthy group. Knee isokinetic extensor/flexor peak torque of KOA patients was positively related to 6-minute walk test, CS-30 test, while negatively related to age. Knee isokinetic extensor peak torque was negatively related to pain score and physical function score of WOMAC. Conclusions Both knee extensor and flexor strength are related to KOA. Therefore, during KOA rehabilitation therapies, muscle training for knee extensors (particularly quadriceps femoris muscles) and knee flexors (hamstring muscles, gastrocnemius muscles) need to be valued.