Relationships between lower limb circumferences and muscle strength and thickness

Abstract

[Purpose] We performed measurements of lower limb circumferences, muscle strength and thickness, and in a general analysis of these three parameters, we looked for factors associated with the circumference. [Subjects] The subjects were 20 healthy adults. [Methods] For lower limb muscle strength we adopted the strength of the quadriceps femoris, and using ultrasound we measured the thicknes of the vastus medialis and the central part of the quadriceps femoris. We also measured the circumference of the central part of the thigh and 10 cm above the kneecap. [Results] We found a correlation between the strength of the quadriceps femoris and the circumference of the thigh, but there was no significant correlation with the circumference 10 cm above the knee. Regarding correlations with muscle thickness, very strong correlations were shown between the vastus medialis thickness and the circumference 10 cm above the knee, and the thigh muscle thickness and the circumference of the central part of the thigh. [Conclusion] It is difficult to say that measurement values of the circumference simply reflect the muscles strength, however, from the correlation of the thickness with the circumference, at the central part of the thigh compared to the distal part, there are few influences other than the muscle thickness, suggesting that the circumference does easily reflect the muscle strength.