Biomaterial Database

Clinical assessment of trunk flexor muscle strength in healthy girls 3 to 7 years of age. 1984

K L Baldauf, and D K Swenson, and J M Medeiros, and S A Radtka

We developed a clinical method for assessing trunk flexor muscle strength in healthy children that can be applied to assist physical therapists in determining strength accurately in pediatric patients. In this study, we assessed trunk flexor muscle strength in 75 healthy girls 3 to 7 years of age. Muscle strength was graded on a scale of 0 to 5 using modified, manual muscle testing methods. These methods attempted to minimize the amount of hip flexor muscle activity during trunk flexion and allow more isolated action of the abdominal trunk flexor muscles. The frequency of Normal (Grade 5) strength first appeared to predominate at age 5 years with the majority of children demonstrating Normal (Grade 5) strength by age 7 years. Regression analysis illustrated a positive linear relationship (beta = .37, p less than .001) between mean muscle grade and age group. We discuss muscle cross-sectional area, muscle-fiber diameter, muscle-cell number, maturation of the central nervous system, and changes in body proportions with age as possible contributing factors to the results of this study.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D011187	Posture	The position or physical attitude of the body.	Postures
D001827	Body Height	The distance from the sole to the crown of the head with body standing on a flat surface and fully extended.	Body Heights,Height, Body,Heights, Body
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000009	Abdominal Muscles	Muscles forming the ABDOMINAL WALL including RECTUS ABDOMINIS; ABDOMINAL OBLIQUE MUSCLES, transversus abdominis, pyramidalis muscles and quadratus abdominis.	Cremaster Muscle,Pyramidalis Muscle,Quadratus Abdominis,Transverse Abdominal,Transversus Abdominis,Abdominal Muscle,Abdominal, Transverse,Abdominals, Transverse,Abdomini, Quadratus,Abdominis, Quadratus,Cremaster Muscles,Muscle, Abdominal,Muscle, Cremaster,Muscle, Pyramidalis,Muscles, Abdominal,Muscles, Cremaster,Muscles, Pyramidalis,Pyramidalis Muscles,Quadratus Abdomini,Transverse Abdominals