Correlation of arm cross-section areas with strength performance in practitioners of resistance training

Abstract

It was our objective to analyse the correlation of the total, adipose, and muscular cross-section areas of the arm with the maximum voluntary strength performance of upper segments in practitioners of resistance training. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 32 healthy male subjects, right-handed and aged between 18 and 30 years at a fitness centre in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. The maximum voluntary strength was measured by the maximal repetition test (1-MR) in unilateral exercises. A linear correlation was analysed using the Spearman test. Student's t-test was used for the quantitative analysis. A high correlation was obtained of the total cross-section area of the arm with the maximum voluntary biceps force (r= 0.72, p= 0.00) and the sum of loads (r= 0.73, p= 0.00). The muscle cross-section area of the arm showed moderate correlation with the maximum voluntary biceps force (r = 0.57, p= 0.00), triceps (r= 0.53, p= 0.00) and sum of loads (r= 0.59, p= 0.00). A low correlation was observed between the adipose cross-section area of the arm and the variables under analysis. In practitioners of resistance training, the increase in the total and muscle cross-section areas of the arm determines the increase in maximum voluntary strength in the upper segments.