ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The main goal was to explore the relationship between hand grip strength (HGS), the thickness of the skinfold at multiple sites, and the trunk flexor (TF) and extensor (TE) muscle strength among healthy participants. METHODS: We employed a cross-sectional design and randomly recruited 40 participants. Ultimately, only 39 participants were included. First, measurements for demographic and anthropometric variables were carried out. After that, the evaluation of hand grip strength and skinfold was performed. DATA ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were used to explore the amount of interaction between the smoking and nonsmoking groups, and a repeated measures analysis of variance was employed. Furthermore, associations between dependent and independent variables were discovered through a multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: The participants had a mean age of 21.59 ± 1.19 years. The results of the repeated measures analysis of variance validated an acceptable interaction between the trunk and hand grip strength at a significance level of p < 0.01, further emphasized by their moderate association (p < 0.05). Multiple regressions between TE, TF, the independent variables T score, height, and age were also significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The trunk muscle strength can be used as a health indicator for comprehensive evaluation. The present study also found a moderate relationship between hand grip strength, trunk strength, and T score.
ABSTRACT
Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS), an innovative training technology, is considered as a joint-friendly, highly customizable and particularly time-effective option for improving muscle strength and stability, body composition and pain relief. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of 16 weeks of once-weekly WB-EMS on maximum isometric trunk (MITS), leg extensor strength (MILES), lean body mass (LBM) and body-fat content. A cohort of 54 male amateur golfers, 18 to 70 years old and largely representative for healthy adults, were randomly assigned to a WB-EMS (n = 27) or a control group (CG: n = 27). Bipolar low-frequency WB-EMS combined with low-intensity movements was conducted once per week for 20 min at the participants' locations, while the CG maintained their habitual activity. The intention to treat analysis with multiple imputation was applied. After 16 weeks of once-weekly WB-EMS application with an attendance rate close to 100%, we observed significant WB-EMS effects on MITS (p < 0.001), MILES (p = 0.001), LBM (p = 0.034), but not body-fat content (p = 0.080) and low-back pain (LBP: p ≥ 0.078). In summary, the commercial setting of once-weekly WB-EMS application is effective to enhance stability, maximum strength, body composition and, to a lower extent, LBP in amateur golfers widely representative for a healthy male cohort.