Publications
Exploring the interplay between body mass index and passive muscle properties in relation to grip strength and jump performance in female university students
Authors: Miguel Angel Perez 1, Gabriela Urrejola-Contreras 2, Brian Alvarez 1, Camila Steilen 1, Antonieta Latorre 3, Maximiliano A. Torres-Banduc 4
Affiliations:
- Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud, Carrera de Kinesiologia, Universidad Vina del Mar, Vina del Mar, Chile
- Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud, Unidad de Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad Vina del Mar, Vina del Mar, Chile
- Centro de Nutricion, Vina del Mar, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Americas, Vina del Mar, Chile
Journal: PeerJ - Life & Environment - November 2024, Volume 12, Article no. e18430 (DOI: 10.7717/peerj.18430)
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Field & Applications:
- Medical
- Sport
- Normatives
- Musculoskeletal health
- Muscle development / Performance
Background: Women typically have a higher body fat content than men. Fat accumulation is associated with muscle weakness and alterations in mechanical properties. This study aims to determine the relationship between BMI and weight status with the mechanical properties of muscle and tendon. It was hypothesized that the stiffness and tone of the forearm muscle and Achilles tendon would be correlated with weight status and BMI.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 136 female university students. Grip strength was assessed using a dynamometer, body composition was analyzed through bioimpedance, and countermovement jump performance was evaluated with a force platform. Stiffness and tone were measured using the MyotonPRO device. ANOVA was used to compare grip strength and countermovement jump performance according to body composition. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine bivariate associations.
Results: Relative grip strength decreased with an increase in fat content, while forearm muscle stiffness and tone decreased with rising weight status and BMI. Stiffness of the Achilles tendon increased with an increase in fat content and showed a significant positive correlation with BMI. Multiple regression analysis revealed a weak correlation between BMI, body composition, and stiffness of the forearm muscles.
Conclusion: The results of this study support the notion that the stiffness of the forearm muscles and Achilles tendon is correlated with BMI in young adult women. Furthermore, an increase in body fat percentage is linked to a decrease in mechanical properties and poorer muscle function.
Subjects: kinesiology, biomechanics, sports medicine
Keywords: tone, grip strength, stiffness, body composition, performance
The results of the present study support the notion that the stiffness of the forearm muscles and Achilles tendon is correlated with BMI in young adult women. Furthermore, higher grip strength is associated with increased muscle stiffness, while a higher body fat percentage is linked to decreased mechanical properties and poorer muscle function. Additionally, an increase in Achilles tendon stiffness is associated with a higher BMI.