Measurement of thigh muscle size using tape or ultrasound is a poor indicator of thigh muscle strength

Abstract

Measurement of muscle size is often used to estimate muscle strength. The validity of these measurements as indicators of muscle strength is unclear however. This study investigated the relationship of two simple measures of muscle size (tape and ultrasound) with the concentric isokinetic quadriceps and hamstrings strength of a group of Irish Gaelic footballers (n = 25). Both tape and ultrasound demonstrated moderate to excellent reliability at measuring quadriceps and hamstrings muscle size (ICC's 0.69-0.99). Hamstrings were significantly stronger on the dominant limb at 60 • /sec (p = 0.046) and 180 • /sec (p = 0.005), but not at 300 • /sec (p = 0.092). There was no significant difference in quadriceps strength at any speed (all p > 0.05). Dominant limbs were significantly larger using the tape measure (10 cm level: p = 0.005, mid-thigh level: p = 0.003). The dominant hamstrings (p < 0.001), but not the dominant quadriceps (p = 0.399), were significantly larger on ultrasound. There were statistically significant correlations between muscle strength and muscle size measurements, especially for the tape measurements. However, despite the fact that the dominant limb muscles were both stronger and larger, the strength of these correlations was only weak to moderate (r = 0.176-0.586). The results suggest that both tape measurement and ultrasound, while reliable, are of limited use as indicators of thigh muscle strength.

Fat-free mass and bone mineral content positively affect peak torque production in Brazilian soccer players

“…Thus, despite a strong and significant correlation between FFM and PT, greater FFM did not necessarily result in higher strength output. A similar pattern was observed among ice hockey [3] and Irish Gaelic Football [18] players, who showed higher PT values in the lower limb with less FFM. It should also be noted that fiber recruitment plays an important role in strength and speed performance in athletes and that it is not determined by FFM [6].…”

Reliability of Panoramic Ultrasound Imaging in Simultaneously Examining Muscle Size and Quality of the Hamstring Muscles in Young, Healthy Males and Females

“…All assessments were performed after participants had rested for 10 min to allow for any fluid shifts to stabilize (Berg et al 1993). Participants were instructed to maintain the same lifestyle between trials and to refrain from any vigorous physical activity or exercise within 4 h of testing (O'Sullivan et al 2009). …”

“…US settings were optimized for image quality, including gain (50 dB), depth (8 cm) (Blackburn et al 2009) and frequency (12 MHz), and were set prior to testing and held constant between participants and across trials (Rosenberg et al 2014). All US images were scanned in the transverse plane at 50% of the distance between the greater trochanter and the lateral joint line of the knee (Magnusson et al 1997) and were marked while the participants were standing in an upright position (O'Sullivan et al 2009). For each scan, the primary investigator moved the probe manually at a slow and continuous rate along the surface of the skin from the lateral to the medial sides of the hamstring musculature using a special function on the US imaging device called LogiqView (GE Logiq S8).…”

Do upper leg compression garments aid performance and reduce exercise-induced muscle damage in recreational marathon runners?

“…[ 11 ] One commonly used method for circumference measurements is using a tape measure, as it is inexpensive, efficient, rapid, and reliable. [ 12 ] The participants’ measurements were obtained without CGs and taken midway between the trochanterion and lateral border of the tibia, at the mid-trochanterion-tibiale laterale site (according to the International Standards for anthropometric assessment). [ 13 ] Each measurement was performed three times and the average value reported.…”