Association of Muscle Strength, Skeletal Muscle Mass, and Physical Function of Healthy Adults with Their Size at Birth

Abstract

[Purpose] To determine the association of muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass, and physical function of healthy adults with their size at birth. [Participants and Methods] The study participants were 117 medical university students aged ≥20 years (71 men and 46 women). Grip strength, skeletal muscle mass index and the five-repetition sit-to-stand test were evaluated and associations with the participants’ sizes at birth and at the end of 1 month, as recorded in the Maternal and Child Health handbook, were investigated using partial correlation and multiple regression analysis. [Results] Partial correlation analysis elucidated that grip strength is significantly positively associated with the weight, length, and chest circumference of newborns and of 1-month-old infants. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis revealed that grip strength is correlated with the length of 1-month-old infants. [Conclusion] The effect of body size at birth and at the end of 1 month appears to be maintained in healthy adults.