Correlations between changes in knee extension torque and the volume of the quadriceps femoris muscles after resistance training: A preliminary study of healthy individuals

• Published in: The Journal of Manual Physical Therapy Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 45 - 48
• Main Authors: Koami, Nobuhiko, Watanabe, Atsuya, Nakajima, Takayuki, Mori, Atsushi, Nakashima, Go, Jones, Atsushi, Yusuke, Saito, Maetani, Yusuke, Ono, Wakana, Takahashi, Noriko, Sakai, Takayuki, Nose, Kiichi, Ochi, Shigehiro, Aoki, Yasuchika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Society of Japanese Manual Physical Therapy 2019
• Subjects: knee extension torque; magnetic resonance imaging; muscle volume
• ISSN: 1346-9223; 2434-4087
• DOI: 10.32166/jmpt.19_45

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the muscle volume, measured with 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the strength of the quadriceps femoris, measured with an isokinetic dynamometer, in healthy subjects. Twelve lower extremities of 6 healthy volunteers (3 males and 3 females, mean age ± SD 28.8 ± 5.9 years) were included. An exercise program to strengthen the quadriceps femoris using an exercise band was performed for 8 weeks. Quadriceps femoris muscle volume and knee extension torque were measured after the 8-week training. Knee extension torque and volume of the quadriceps femoris significantly increased after the 8-week training compared to their baseline values (p<0.001).There was a significant positive correlation between the amount of change in muscle volume and knee extension torque (r=0.64, p=0.02). Muscle volume measurement with MRI may be useful for monitoring knee extension torque changes, resulting from muscle strengthening exercises, of patients who cannot perform conventional muscle strength tests.