Lower extremity muscle strength in 6- to 8-year-old children using hand-held dynamometry

Abstract

Purposes: The purposes of the study were to establish isometric torque reference values for healthy 6- to 8-year-old children for 6 lower extremity muscles and determine the effects of gender, age, height, weight, and physical activity upon strength.

Methods: A hand-held dynamometer was used to obtain force/torque values for 154 children.

Results: Age-referenced force/torque and cutoff values are provided for each muscle group. Torque increased with age and height for all muscles and with weight for all muscles except knee extensors. No gender differences were found. Children who participated in 3 or more hours per week in organized sports were stronger in 4 of 6 muscles; the number of hours spent in active play did not affect torque.

Conclusions: This study provides hand-held dynamometer strength reference values to enable clinicians to determine if clients of the same age, height, and weight have muscle weakness.