Strength of forearm flexors and extensors in men and women.

SINGH, MOHAN, AND PETER V. KARPOVICH. Strength ufforearmjexors and extensors in men and women. J. Appl. Physiol. 25(2) : 177-180. 1968.-The strength of the elbow flexors and extensors of both arms was measured in 12 men and 1.1 women by means of an electric dynamometer. The results showed that, with the exception of two conditions in men, there was no statistically significant difference in strength between the preferred and the nonpreferred arm. The exceptions were: isometric contraction of flexors at 50” and concentric contraction of extensors at 90’. In both instances the preferred arm was stronger. The average strength of extensors expressed in percent of flexors’ strength in men varied from 53-55 for concentric, 47-48 for eccentric, and 52-57 for isometric contractions. In women it was 61-68 for concentric, 49-51 for eccentric, and 57-60 for isometric contractions. Expressed in percent of men’s strength, the means of all tests for women were between 42-47 with one exception: the concentric strength of the flexors in the preferred arm, which ranged between 35-39.