Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Association of physical activity with muscular strength and fat-free mass in adolescents: the HELENA study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyse the association of objectively assessed physical activity (PA) with muscular strength and fat-free mass in adolescents, and to determine whether meeting the current PA recommendations is associated with higher levels of muscular strength and fat-free mass. The present cross-sectional study comprised 363 Spanish adolescents (180 females) aged 12.5–17.5 years. PA was assessed by accelerometry and expressed as average PA (counts/min), and min/day of inactive, light, moderate, vigorous and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA). MVPA was dichotomized into <60 min/day and ≥60. Upper body muscular strength was measured with the handgrip strength test, and lower body muscular strength was measured with the standing broad jump, squat jump, counter movement jump and Abalakov tests. Fat-free mass was measured by DXA. We observed positive associations between vigorous PA and all the lower body muscular strength tests except for the counter movement jump in males. PA was not associated with fat-free mass in both males and females. Male adolescents engaged in at least 60 min/day MVPA performed better in the standing broad jump test. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggest that only vigorous PA is associated with muscular strength, particularly lower-body muscular strength in male adolescents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen LB (1994) Changes in physical activity are reflected in changes in fitness during late adolescence. A 2-year follow-up study. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 34:390–397

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen LB, Harro M, Sardinha LB, Froberg K, Ekelund U, Brage S, Anderssen SA (2006) Physical activity and clustered cardiovascular risk in children: a cross-sectional study (The European Youth Heart Study). Lancet 368:299–304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen LB, Lawlor DA, Cooper AR, Froberg K, Anderssen SA (2009) Physical fitness in relation to transport to school in adolescents: the Danish youth and sports study. Scand J Med Sci Sports 19:406–411

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ara I, Vicente-Rodriguez G, Jimenez-Ramirez J, Dorado C, Serrano-Sanchez JA, Calbet JA (2004) Regular participation in sports is associated with enhanced physical fitness and lower fat mass in prepubertal boys. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 28:1585–1593

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baquet G, Twisk JW, Kemper HC, Van Praagh E, Berthoin S (2006) Longitudinal follow-up of fitness during childhood: interaction with physical activity. Am J Hum Biol 18:51–58

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baxter-Jones AD, Eisenmann JC, Mirwald RL, Faulkner RA, Bailey DA (2008) The influence of physical activity on lean mass accrual during adolescence: a longitudinal analysis. J Appl Physiol 105:734–741

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beghin L, Castera M, Manios Y, Gilbert CC, Kersting M, De Henauw S, Kafatos A, Gottrand F, Molnar D, Sjostrom M, Leclercq C, Widhalm K, Mesana MI, Moreno LA, Libersa C (2008) Quality assurance of ethical issues and regulatory aspects relating to good clinical practices in the HELENA cross-sectional study. Int J Obes (Lond) 32(Suppl 5):S12–S18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behm DG, Faigenbaum AD, Falk B, Klentrou P (2008) Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology position paper: resistance training in children and adolescents. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 33:547–561

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernhardt DT, Gomez J, Johnson MD, Martin TJ, Rowland TW, Small E, LeBlanc C, Malina R, Krein C, Young JC, Reed FE, Anderson SJ, Griesemer BA, Bar-Or O (2001) Strength training by children and adolescents. Pediatrics 107:1470–1472

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beunen G, Malina RM (1988) Growth and physical performance relative to the timing of the adolescent spurt. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 16:503–540

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchard C (1990) Exercise, fitness, and health: a consensus of current knowledge. Human Kinetics, Champaign

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouchard C, Shephard RJ, Stephens T (1993) Physical activity, fitness and health consensus statement. Human Kinetics, Champaign

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchheit M, Platat C, Oujaa M, Simon C (2007) Habitual physical activity, physical fitness and heart rate variability in preadolescents. Int J Sports Med 28:204–210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castro-Pinero J, Artero EG, Espana-Romero V, Ortega FB, Sjostrom M, Suni J, Ruiz JR (2009) Criterion-related validity of field-based fitness tests in youth: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med [Epub ahead of print]

  • Dela F, Larsen JJ, Mikines KJ, Ploug T, Petersen LN, Galbo H (1995) Insulin-stimulated muscle glucose clearance in patients with NIDDM. Effects of one-legged physical training. Diabetes 44:1010–1020

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebeling P, Bourey R, Koranyi L, Tuominen JA, Groop LC, Henriksson J, Mueckler M, Sovijarvi A, Koivisto VA (1993) Mechanism of enhanced insulin sensitivity in athletes. Increased blood flow, muscle glucose transport protein (GLUT-4) concentration, and glycogen synthase activity. J Clin Invest 92:1623–1631

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekelund U, Anderssen SA, Froberg K, Sardinha LB, Andersen LB, Brage S (2007) Independent associations of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness with metabolic risk factors in children: the European youth heart study. Diabetologia 50:1832–1840

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Folland JP, Williams AG (2007) The adaptations to strength training: morphological and neurological contributions to increased strength. Sports Med 37:145–168

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foo LH, Zhang Q, Zhu K, Ma G, Greenfield H, Fraser DR (2007) Influence of body composition, muscle strength, diet and physical activity on total body and forearm bone mass in Chinese adolescent girls. Br J Nutr 98:1281–1287

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Houmard JA, Egan PC, Neufer PD, Friedman JE, Wheeler WS, Israel RG, Dohm GL (1991) Elevated skeletal muscle glucose transporter levels in exercise-trained middle-aged men. Am J Physiol 261:E437–443

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanehisa H, Kuno S, Katsuta S, Fukunaga T (2006) A 2-year follow-up study on muscle size and dynamic strength in teenage tennis players. Scand J Med Sci Sports 16:93–101

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katzmarzyk PT, Malina RM, Song TM, Bouchard C (1998) Physical activity and health-related fitness in youth: a multivariate analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 30:709–714

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malina RM, Bouchard C, Bar-Or O (2004) Growth, maturation and physical activity. Human Kinetics, Champaign

    Google Scholar 

  • Maughan RJ, Watson JS, Weir J (1983) Strength and cross-sectional area of human skeletal muscle. J Physiol 338:37–49

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melton LJ III, Khosla S, Crowson CS, O’Connor MK, O’Fallon WM, Riggs BL (2000) Epidemiology of sarcopenia. J Am Geriatr Soc 48:625–630

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno LA, De Henauw S, Gonzalez-Gross M, Kersting M, Molnar D, Gottrand F, Barrios L, Sjostrom M, Manios Y, Gilbert CC, Leclercq C, Widhalm K, Kafatos A, Marcos A (2008) Design and implementation of the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Obes (Lond) 32(Suppl 5):S4–S11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagy E, Vicente-Rodriguez G, Manios Y, Beghin L, Iliescu C, Censi L, Dietrich S, Ortega FB, De Vriendt T, Plada M, Moreno LA, Molnar D (2008) Harmonization process and reliability assessment of anthropometric measurements in a multicenter study in adolescents. Int J Obes (Lond) 32(Suppl 5):S58–S65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega FB, Artero EG, Ruiz JR, Vicente-Rodriguez G, Bergman P, Hagstromer M, Ottevaere C, Nagy E, Konsta O, Rey-Lopez JP, Polito A, Dietrich S, Plada M, Beghin L, Manios Y, Sjostrom M, Castillo MJ (2008a) Reliability of health-related physical fitness tests in European adolescents. The HELENA study. Int J Obes (Lond) 32(Suppl 5):S49–S57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega FB, Ruiz JR, Castillo MJ, Sjostrom M (2008b) Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: a powerful marker of health. Int J Obes (Lond) 32:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega FB, Ruiz JR, Hurtig-Wennlof A, Sjostrom M (2008c) Physically active adolescents are more likely to have a healthier cardiovascular fitness level independently of their adiposity status. The European youth heart study. Rev Esp Cardiol 61:123–129

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poehlman ET, Dvorak RV, DeNino WF, Brochu M, Ades PA (2000) Effects of resistance training and endurance training on insulin sensitivity in nonobese, young women: a controlled randomized trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85:2463–2468

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pollock ML, Franklin BA, Balady GJ, Chaitman BL, Fleg JL, Fletcher B, Limacher M, Pina IL, Stein RA, Williams M, Bazzarre T (2000) AHA Science Advisory Resistance exercise in individuals with and without cardiovascular disease: benefits, rationale, safety, and prescription: an advisory from the Committee on Exercise, Rehabilitation, and Prevention, Council on Clinical Cardiology, American Heart Association; position paper endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine. Circulation 101:828–833

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz JR, Espana-Romero V, Ortega FB, Sjostrom M, Castillo MJ, Gutierrez A (2006a) Hand span influences optimal grip span in male and female teenagers. J Hand Surg Am 31:1367–1372

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz JR, Ortega F, Gutierrez A, Meusel D, Sjöström M, Castillo M (2006b) Health-related fitness assessment in childhood and adolescence: a European approach based on the AVENA, EYHS and HELENA studies. J Public Health 14:269–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz JR, Sui X, Lobelo F, Morrow JR Jr, Jackson AW, Sjostrom M, Blair SN (2008) Association between muscular strength and mortality in men: prospective cohort study. BMJ 337:439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sallis JF, McKenzie TL, Alcaraz JE (1993) Habitual physical activity and health-related physical fitness in fourth-grade children. Am J Dis Child 147:890–896

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stenevi-Lundgren S, Daly RM, Linden C, Gardsell P, Karlsson MK (2009) Effects of a daily school based physical activity intervention program on muscle development in prepubertal girls. Eur J Appl Physiol 105:533–541

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH (1976) Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child 51:170–179

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tresierras MA, Balady GJ (2009) Resistance training in the treatment of diabetes and obesity: mechanisms and outcomes. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev 29:67–75

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vicente-Rodriguez G, Ara I, Perez-Gomez J, Serrano-Sanchez JA, Dorado C, Calbet JA (2004a) High femoral bone mineral density accretion in prepubertal soccer players. Med Sci Sports Exerc 36:1789–1795

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vicente-Rodriguez G, Dorado C, Perez-Gomez J, Gonzalez-Henriquez JJ, Calbet JA (2004b) Enhanced bone mass and physical fitness in young female handball players. Bone 35:1208–1215

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vicente-Rodriguez G, Ara I, Perez-Gomez J, Dorado C, Calbet JA (2005) Muscular development and physical activity as major determinants of femoral bone mass acquisition during growth. Br J Sports Med 39:611–616

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vicente-Rodriguez G, Dorado C, Ara I, Perez-Gomez J, Olmedillas H, Delgado-Guerra S, Calbet JA (2007) Artistic versus rhythmic gymnastics: effects on bone and muscle mass in young girls. Int J Sports Med 28:386–393

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vicente-Rodriguez G, Urzanqui A, Mesana MI, Ortega FB, Ruiz JR, Ezquerra J, Casajus JA, Blay G, Blay VA, Gonzalez-Gross M, Moreno LA (2008) Physical fitness effect on bone mass is mediated by the independent association between lean mass and bone mass through adolescence: a cross-sectional study. J Bone Miner Metab 26:288–294

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The HELENA Study took place with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT: 2005-007034). This work was also partially supported by the European Union, in the framework of the Public Health Programme (ALPHA project, Ref: 2006120), the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), and the Spanish Ministry of Education (EX-2007-1124, EX-2008-0641, DEP2007.29933.E.). The content of this paper reflect only the authors’ views and the European Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

The study was performed following the ethical guidelines of the Research Ethics Committee of the Government of Aragón (Spain).

Conflict of interest statement

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Growth, Exercise, Nutrition, and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Universidad de Zaragoza, Corona de Aragón 42, 2nd floor, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Diego Moliner-Urdiales, Germán Vicente-Rodriguez, Juan P. Rey-Lopez, Luis Gracia-Marco & Luis A. Moreno

  2. Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Diego Moliner-Urdiales, Francisco B. Ortega, Michael Sjöström & Jonatan R. Ruiz

  3. Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

    Francisco B. Ortega & Manuel J. Castillo

  4. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y del Deporte, Universidad de Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain

    Germán Vicente-Rodriguez

  5. Division of Clinical Nutrition and Prevention, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Kurt Widhalm

  6. Escuela Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

    Luis A. Moreno

Authors
  1. Diego Moliner-Urdiales
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Francisco B. Ortega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Germán Vicente-Rodriguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Juan P. Rey-Lopez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Luis Gracia-Marco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kurt Widhalm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Michael Sjöström
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Luis A. Moreno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Manuel J. Castillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Jonatan R. Ruiz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diego Moliner-Urdiales.

Additional information

Communicated by Klaas Westerterp.

On behalf of the HELENA Study Group

The details of the HELENA Study Group are given in Appendix.

Appendix: HELENA Study Group

Appendix: HELENA Study Group

Co-ordinator: Luis A. Moreno.

Core Group members: Luis A. Moreno, Fréderic Gottrand, Stefaan De Henauw, Marcela González-Gross, Chantal Gilbert.

Steering Committee: Anthony Kafatos (President), Luis A. Moreno, Christian Libersa, Stefaan De Henauw, Jackie Sánchez, Fréderic Gottrand, Mathilde Kersting, Michael Sjöstrom, Dénes Molnár, Marcela González-Gross, Jean Dallongeville, Chantal Gilbert, Gunnar Hall, Lea Maes, Luca Scalfi.

Project Manager: Pilar Meléndez.

1. Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain): Luis A. Moreno, Jesús Fleta, José A. Casajús, Gerardo Rodríguez, Concepción Tomás, María I. Mesana, Germán Vicente-Rodríguez, Adoración Villarroya, Carlos M. Gil, Ignacio Ara, Juan Revenga, Carmen Lachen, Juan Fernández Alvira, Gloria Bueno, Aurora Lázaro, Olga Bueno, Juan F. León, Jesús Mª Garagorri, Manuel Bueno, Juan Pablo Rey López, Iris Iglesia, Paula Velasco, Silvia Bel.

2. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spain): Ascensión Marcos, Julia Wärnberg, Esther Nova, Sonia Gómez, Esperanza Ligia Díaz, Javier Romeo, Ana Veses, Mari Angeles Puertollano, Belén Zapatera, Tamara Pozo.

3. Université de Lille 2 (France): Laurent Beghin, Christian Libersa, Frédéric Gottrand, Catalina Iliescu, Juliana Von Berlepsch.

4. Research Institute of Child Nutrition Dortmund, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn (Germany): Mathilde Kersting, Wolfgang Sichert-Hellert, Ellen Koeppen.

5. Pécsi Tudományegyetem (University of Pécs) (Hungary): Dénes Molnar, Eva Erhardt, Katalin Csernus, Katalin Török, Szilvia Bokor, Mrs. Angster, Enikö Nagy, Orsolya Kovács, Judit Répasi.

6. University of Crete School of Medicine (Greece): Anthony Kafatos, Caroline Codrington, María Plada, Angeliki Papadaki, Katerina Sarri, Anna Viskadourou, Christos Hatzis, Michael Kiriakakis, George Tsibinos, Constantine Vardavas Manolis Sbokos, Eva Protoyeraki, Maria Fasoulaki.

7. Institut für Ernährungs- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften – Ernährungphysiologie. Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelms Universität (Germany): Peter Stehle, Klaus Pietrzik, Marcela González-Gross, Christina Breidenassel, Andre Spinneker, Jasmin Al-Tahan, Miriam Segoviano, Anke Berchtold, Christine Bierschbach, Erika Blatzheim, Adelheid Schuch, Petra Pickert.

8. University of Granada (Spain): Manuel J. Castillo Garzón, Ángel Gutiérrez Sáinz, Francisco B. Ortega Porcel, Jonatan R Ruiz, Enrique García Artero, Vanesa España Romero, David Jiménez Pavón, Cristóbal Sánchez Muñoz, Victor Soto, Palma Chillón, Jose M. Heredia, Virginia Aparicio, Pedro Baena, Claudia M. Cardia, Ana Carbonell.

9. Istituto Nazionalen di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione (Italy): Davide Arcella, Giovina Catasta, Laura Censi, Donatella Ciarapica, Marika Ferrari, Cinzia Le Donne, Catherine Leclerq, Luciana Magrì, Giuseppe Maiani, Rafaela Piccinelli, Angela Polito, Raffaela Spada, Elisabetta Toti.

10. University of Napoli “Federico II” Dept of Food Science (Italy): Luca Scalfi, Paola Vitaglione, Concetta Montagnese.

11. Ghent University (Belgium): Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, Stefaan De Henauw, Tineke De Vriendt, Lea Maes, Christophe Matthys, Carine Vereecken, Mieke de Maeyer, Charlene Ottevaere.

12. Medical University of Vienna (Austria): Kurt Widhalm, Katharina Phillipp, Sabine Dietrich, Birgit Kubelka, Marion Boriss-Riedl.

13. Harokopio University (Greece): Yannis Manios, Eva Grammatikaki, Zoi Bouloubasi, Tina Louisa Cook, Sofia Eleutheriou, Orsalia Consta, George Moschonis, Ioanna Katsaroli, George Kraniou, Stalo Papoutsou, Despoina Keke, Ioanna Petraki, Elena Bellou, Sofia Tanagra, Kostalenia Kallianoti, Dionysia Argyropoulou, Katerina Kondaki, Stamatoula Tsikrika, Christos Karaiskos.

14. Institut Pasteur de Lille (France): Jean Dallongeville, Aline Meirhaeghe, Szilvia Bokor, Nathalie Fievet, Louisa Goumidi.

15. Karolinska Institutet (Sweden): Michael Sjöstrom, Patrick Bergman, María Hagströmer, Lena Hallström, Mårten Hallberg, Eric Poortvliet, Julia Wärnberg, Nico Rizzo, Linda Beckman, Anita Hurtig Wennlöf, Emma Patterson, Lydia Kwak, Lars Cernerud, Per Tillgren, Stefaan Sörensen.

16. Asociación de Investigación de la Industria Agroalimentaria (Spain): Jackie Sánchez-Molero, Elena Picó, Maite Navarro, Blanca Viadel, José Enrique Carreres, Gema Merino, Rosa Sanjuán, María Lorente, María José Sánchez, Sara Castelló.

17. Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (United Kingdom): Chantal Gilbert, Sarah Thomas, Elaine Allchurch, Peter Burguess.

18. SIK - Institutet foer Livsmedel och Bioteknik (Sweden): Gunnar Hall, Annika Astrom, Anna Sverkén, Agneta Broberg.

19. Meurice Recherche & Development asbl (Belgium): Annick Masson, Claire Lehoux, Pascal Brabant, Philippe Pate, Laurence Fontaine.

20. Campden & Chorleywood Food Development Institute (Hungary): Andras Sebok, Tunde Kuti, Adrienn Hegyi.

21. Productos Aditivos SA (Spain): Cristina Maldonado, Ana Llorente.

22. Cárnicas Serrano SL (Spain): Emilio García.

23. Cederroth International AB (Sweden): Holger von Fircks, Marianne Lilja Hallberg, Maria Messerer.

24. Lantmännen Food R&D (Sweden): Mats Larsson, Helena Fredriksson, Viola Adamsson, Ingmar Börjesson.

25. European Food Information Council (Belgium): Laura Fernández, Laura Smillie, Josephine Wills.

26. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain): Marcela González-Gross, Agustín Meléndez, Pedro J. Benito, Javier Calderón, David Jiménez-Pavón, Jara Valtueña, Paloma Navarro, Alejandro Urzanqui, Ulrike Albers, Raquel Pedrero, Juan José Gómez Lorente.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moliner-Urdiales, D., Ortega, F.B., Vicente-Rodriguez, G. et al. Association of physical activity with muscular strength and fat-free mass in adolescents: the HELENA study. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 1119–1127 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1457-z

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1457-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation