A normative study to check isokinetic testing of calf muscle strength in dominant versus non-dominant lower limb among young adults

Abstract

Background
Researches for the evaluation of strength in the hip abductors, biceps brachi and quadriceps in the dominant and non-dominant limb have been done but the data for calf muscle strength has yet not been evaluated in normal adults.
Purpose
To form a normative data of isokinetic testing of calf muscle strength in dominant and non-dominant lower extremity in young Indian adults.
Method
83 normal young collegiate males and females were tested for isokinetic peak torque production during plantar flexion on the isokinetic dynamometer.
Results
Strength for the dominant calf muscle was 73.17±26.44 N and for the non-dominant calf muscle was 56.65±21.27 N. The paired t test was used to analyse the data to evaluate if there is a significant difference between the dominant and non-dominant calf muscle. Paired t-tests (p-value-0.000) indicated significant differences in peak torque among dominant versus non-dominant calf muscle group strength.
Conclusion
These results suggest that peak torque of dominant calf muscle group was more than peak torque of non-dominant calf muscle group.