Rheumatology, Vol 38, 652-655, Copyright © 1999 by British Society for Rheumatology
AF Mannion, MA Adams, RG Cooper and P Dolan
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine, in healthy
volunteers, the relationship between back extensor muscle strength and body
size. METHODS: The maximal voluntary isometric back extensor strength of
456 volunteers, aged 18-42 yr and with no history of low back pain, was
measured in a standing, slightly flexed forward posture. This was then
correlated with two indices of body size: body mass and fat-free body mass.
RESULTS: Significant linear relationships were observed between back muscle
strength and each of the two indices of body size. There was a gender
difference in both the slope and the intercept of the regression equations
describing the relationships. There was no independent influence of age
within the range studied. CONCLUSION: It was possible to establish
predictive equations for back extensor strength based on body size which
could be used to quantify strength 'deficits', for instance in patients
with low back pain, and to prescribe submaximal target forces for use in
endurance training and testing.
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Prediction of maximal back muscle strength from indices of body mass and fat-free body mass
Department of Anatomy, University of Bristol, UK.
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