Relationships between lower extremity strength and the multi-directional reach test in children aged 7 to 12 years.
Benjaporn Hirunyaphinun, Soontharee Taweetanalarp, Anong Tantisuwat
PMID 31889765WHAT IT FOUND
In children aged 7 to 12, hip and knee flexor strength was related to reach distance in all directions, but overall links were weak.
Reach scores should not be read as a simple measure of leg strength.
Key findings
01Forward reach distance showed fair relationships with hip flexor, hip extensor, knee flexor, knee extensor, and ankle plantar flexor strength (r = 0.27 to 0.31, all p < 0.05).
02Backward reach distance showed fair relationships with all tested lower limb muscle groups (r = 0.30 to 0.50, p < 0.05), and hip abductor strength showed a moderate relationship (r = 0.52, p < 0.001).
03Leftward reach distance showed fair relationships with hip flexor, hip extensor, hip abductor, knee flexor, and knee extensor strength (r = 0.29 to 0.36, p < 0.05), and rightward reach distance showed fair relationships with hip flexor, knee flexor, ankle dorsiflexor, and ankle plantar flexor strength (r = 0.26 to 0.32, p < 0.05).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The children were recruited from two schools, and those with balance, musculoskeletal, visual, or lower limb problems were excluded, so the results may not apply to children with movement disorders. The study measured associations at one time point. It did not test whether strengthening hip or knee flexors improves reach distance or balance. The reach test was performed standing, while strength was tested lying or sitting, so the body position differed. Only lower limb muscles were measured. The authors noted trunk muscles might affect reaching. The correlations were fair or moderate at best, so a reach score cannot be treated as a direct measure of strength.
Declared interests
The authors declared no relevant conflict of interest. The study was funded by the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that a short reach distance proves weak lower limb muscles or that strengthening those muscles will improve balance. The reach distances were only fair or moderate related to strength, and the study did not test a treatment.