Citation

Chimera NJ, Manal K. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2013; 27(9): 2596-2602.

Affiliation

1Department of Athletic Training, Daemen College, Amherst, NY USA 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delaware Rehabilitation Institute University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, National Strength and Conditioning Association)

DOI

10.1519/JSC.0b013e31827f522c

PMID

23222092

Abstract

This study investigated middle age healthy adults to elucidate if plantar flexion strength differences exist because of the triceps surae or the soleus when comparing between sexes. A random population sample was stratified by sex and included 25 healthy (12 female; 13 male) subjects who volunteered for participation. Dorsiflexion range of motion was measured using a bi-plane goniometer. Self-reported function was assessed using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure. Ankle plantar flexion strength was assessed using the Biodex System 3. To determine triceps surae versus soleus strength, testing positions included: 1) full ankle dorsiflexion with the knee in full extension and 2) full ankle dorsiflexion with 90 degrees of knee flexion. Results indicated that females were significantly weaker than males in absolute plantar flexion strength for both triceps surae and soleus testing positions. Further, even with normalizing plantar flexion strength to body mass plantar flexion strength deficits persisted. Additionally, when the contribution of the soleus was accounted for in the full knee extended position (trticeps surae) normalized strength differences no longer existed between sexes. Therefore, these results indicate that what appeared as tricpes surae complex strength deficits in middle age females compared to males was actually soleus weakness. This may suggest that middle age females are predisposed to increased falls at an early age then previously reported. Additionally, this may indicate that the soleus muscle should be a focus of strength training for females during middle age.

Language: en