ArticleEuropean journal of applied physiology2021
Comparisons of muscle strength, size, and voluntary activation in pre- and post-pubescent males and females.
Article in European journal of applied physiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Sex Differences in Grip Strength From Birth to Age 16: A Meta-Analysis.European journal of sport science · 2025Pooled it
- Trial
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- Muscle strength and power in young volleyball players: reference values and age group differences.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and the Risk of Sarcopenia: The Mediating Role of Serum Albumin.Toxics · 2026Article
- Difference in the Motor Unit Firing Behavior During Submaximal Isometric Ramp Contraction Between Healthy Children Aged 6-12 Years and Young Adults.Muscle & nerve · 2026Article
- Development of the Muscular and Skeletal System During Adolescence.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2026Review
- A question of rate? Girl-women differences in motor unit firing rate.European journal of applied physiology · 2026Article
- The Effects of the Modified LiiNKInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Children'sEuropean journal of applied physiology · 2025Review
- Development of juvenile sprint performance in boys: analysis of speed phases-a cross-sectional study by age.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Article
- Motor unit firing rates during slow and fast contractions in boys and men.European journal of applied physiology · 2024Article
- Motor unit firing rates increase in prepubescent youth following linear periodization resistance exercise training.European journal of applied physiology · 2024Article
- A Perspective on Evaluating Life Stage Differences in Drug Dosages for Drug Labeling and Instructions.The AAPS journal · 2024Article
- Self-regulation training improves stress resilience in elite pre-pubescent female gymnasts.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- Jumping Mechanography: Reference Centiles in Childhood and Introduction of the Nerve-Muscle Index to Quantify Motor Efficiency.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
purposeThe purpose of this study was to compare measurements of muscle strength, size, and activation of the forearm flexors in pre- and post-pubescent males and females.
methodsForty pre-pubescent (mean ± 95% confidence interval, age = 9.79 ± 0.35 years, n = 10 males, n = 10 females) and post-pubescent (age = 17.23 ± 0.58 years, n = 10 males, n = 10 females) youth participated. Subjects completed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) of the forearm flexors, and submaximal isometric step muscle actions at 30, 50, and 70% of the peak MVIC. Percent voluntary activation (VA) was quantified during all isometric muscle actions. Forearm flexor (biceps brachii and brachialis) muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) was quantified from ultrasound images.
resultsMVIC strength was expressed in absolute terms and normalized to CSA. Post-pubertal males were 130% stronger, had 101% greater CSA, and 17% greater maximal VA than pre-pubertal males, while post-pubertal females were 72% stronger, had 54% greater CSA, and 23% greater maximal VA than pre-pubertal females. When MVIC strength was normalized to CSA, the post-pubertal males were still 15% stronger than the pre-pubertal males, while the post-pubertal females were only 12% stronger than the pre-pubertal females. The responses for VA across intensity reflected differences in muscle activation strategies between pre- and post-pubertal males and females.
conclusionThese results suggest that muscle size may account for a greater proportion of the growth and development-related differences in strength among males, while females may be more affected by changes in muscle activation. Regardless of sex, changes in muscle size and neuromuscular function influence strength increases during growth and development.
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