Does muscle size matter?: The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with cerebral palsy
Purpose: To investigate the muscle size–strength relationship of the knee flexors and extensors in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) in relation to typically developing children (TD). Methods: Eighteen children with spastic Diplegia, Gross Motor Function Classification System I–III (mean 7 y...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Informa Healthcare
2015
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/26114 |
| _version_ | 1848751892028456960 |
|---|---|
| author | Reid, S. Pitcher, C. Williams, Sian Licari, M. Valentine, J. Shipman, P. Elliott, Catherine |
| author_facet | Reid, S. Pitcher, C. Williams, Sian Licari, M. Valentine, J. Shipman, P. Elliott, Catherine |
| author_sort | Reid, S. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Purpose: To investigate the muscle size–strength relationship of the knee flexors and extensors in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) in relation to typically developing children (TD). Methods: Eighteen children with spastic Diplegia, Gross Motor Function Classification System I–III (mean 7 y 5 mo SD 1 y 7 mo) and 19 TD children (mean 7 y 6 mo SD 1 y 9 mo) participated. Muscle volume (MV) and anatomical cross-sectional area (aCSA) were assessed using MRI. Measures of peak torque (PT) and work of the knee flexors and extensors were assessed isometrically and isokinetically using a Biodex dynamometer, and normalised to bodymass (Bm). Results: Children with CP were weaker than their TD peers across all torque variables (p < 0.05). MV and aCSA of the knee flexors (MV: p = 0.002; aCSA: p = 0.000) and extensors (MV: p = 0.003; aCSA: p < 0.0001) were smaller in children with CP. The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with CP was weaker than the TD children. The strongest relationship was between MV and isometric PT/Bm for TD children (r = 0.77–0.84), and between MV and isokinetic work (r = 0.70–0.72) for children with CP. Conclusions: Children with CP have smaller, weaker muscles than their TD peers. However, muscle size may only partially explain their decreased torque capacity. MV appears to be a better predictor of muscle work in children with CP than aCSA. This is an important area of research particularly in regard to treatment(s) that target muscle and strength in children with CP. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:59:56Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-26114 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:59:56Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Informa Healthcare |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-261142017-09-13T15:23:54Z Does muscle size matter?: The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with cerebral palsy Reid, S. Pitcher, C. Williams, Sian Licari, M. Valentine, J. Shipman, P. Elliott, Catherine muscle strength Cerebral palsy children muscle volume muscle strength-size relationship Purpose: To investigate the muscle size–strength relationship of the knee flexors and extensors in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) in relation to typically developing children (TD). Methods: Eighteen children with spastic Diplegia, Gross Motor Function Classification System I–III (mean 7 y 5 mo SD 1 y 7 mo) and 19 TD children (mean 7 y 6 mo SD 1 y 9 mo) participated. Muscle volume (MV) and anatomical cross-sectional area (aCSA) were assessed using MRI. Measures of peak torque (PT) and work of the knee flexors and extensors were assessed isometrically and isokinetically using a Biodex dynamometer, and normalised to bodymass (Bm). Results: Children with CP were weaker than their TD peers across all torque variables (p < 0.05). MV and aCSA of the knee flexors (MV: p = 0.002; aCSA: p = 0.000) and extensors (MV: p = 0.003; aCSA: p < 0.0001) were smaller in children with CP. The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with CP was weaker than the TD children. The strongest relationship was between MV and isometric PT/Bm for TD children (r = 0.77–0.84), and between MV and isokinetic work (r = 0.70–0.72) for children with CP. Conclusions: Children with CP have smaller, weaker muscles than their TD peers. However, muscle size may only partially explain their decreased torque capacity. MV appears to be a better predictor of muscle work in children with CP than aCSA. This is an important area of research particularly in regard to treatment(s) that target muscle and strength in children with CP. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/26114 10.3109/09638288.2014.935492 Informa Healthcare restricted |
| spellingShingle | muscle strength Cerebral palsy children muscle volume muscle strength-size relationship Reid, S. Pitcher, C. Williams, Sian Licari, M. Valentine, J. Shipman, P. Elliott, Catherine Does muscle size matter?: The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with cerebral palsy |
| title | Does muscle size matter?: The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with cerebral palsy |
| title_full | Does muscle size matter?: The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with cerebral palsy |
| title_fullStr | Does muscle size matter?: The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with cerebral palsy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does muscle size matter?: The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with cerebral palsy |
| title_short | Does muscle size matter?: The relationship between muscle size and strength in children with cerebral palsy |
| title_sort | does muscle size matter?: the relationship between muscle size and strength in children with cerebral palsy |
| topic | muscle strength Cerebral palsy children muscle volume muscle strength-size relationship |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/26114 |