Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 43, Issue 5 834-838, Copyright © 1977 by American Physiological Society
Factors relating to the strength of male adolescents
A. W. Watson and D. J. O'Donovan
Factors relating to the strength of 53 postpubertal adolescent males have
been examined. A strength index, composed of left and right handgrip and
back strengths, was related to the following: anthropometric measurements
and their derivatives; level of habitual activity; body shape as
characterized by Heath-Carter and Sheldonian somatotype ratings; and
anthropometric ratios. Strength was found to be positively related to all
anthropometric measurements with the exception of skinfold thicknesses.
When body weight was held constant, strength was positively related to arm
circumference, bicondylar diameters of the humerus and femur, thigh volume,
and biacromial diameter, and negatively related to percentage of fat.
Strength was not related to the level of habitual activity. The relative
contributions of overall body size and body shape to predictions of
strength are approximately 57 and 47%. Measures of overall size appear to
make no independent contribution to strength, beyond that contributed by
limb segment volumes, or a combination of linear limb dimensions and
measures of body shape.
