Abstract des Autors

This study examined the age- and sex-associated characteristics of isokinetic leg strength in 8-9-year old, 13-14-year old and adult males and females. A total of 141 subjects, 70 males and 71 females, completed an isokinetic leg strength test to determine maximal extension and flexion torque. Sex by group ANOVA indicated a significant interaction effect (P<0.05) for extension and flexion torque expressed in absolute and mass related terms. Log-linear ANCOVA, with body mass as the covariate, indicated a significant main effect for extension torque, but not for flexion torque in both males and females. There were no significant sex differences (P>0.05) in absolute, mass related, or mass adjusted extension and flexion torque in the pre-teen or teenage groups, but significant sex differences (P<0.05) were observed in the adult group regardless of how the data were expressed. The body mass related data under-estimated the rate of change between groups compared to the mass adjusted data for extension torque but not flexion torque. These data suggest that, with body mass appropriately controlled for, isokinetic leg strength increases with age and that sex differences in leg strength are not apparent before 14 years of age. Verf.-Referat