Highlights
- •The rectus femoris thickness ratio decreased from 1 to 3 years of age.
- •The vastus medialis thickness ratio increased from 2 to 3 years of age.
- •Subcutaneous fat thickness increased intercondylar distance at age 3.
- •Subcutaneous fat thickness decreased vastus medialis thickness ratio at age 3.
- •These relationships should be investigated in each generation.
Abstract
Background
Postnatal changes in individual quadriceps femoris muscle thicknesses and the relationships
between knee alignment and quadriceps thicknesses, postnatal motor development, and
subcutaneous fat thickness are unclear. This study investigated knee alignment and
individual quadriceps thickness ratios in Japanese infants and investigated their
relationships with postnatal motor development and subcutaneous fat thickness.
Methods
One-year-old (n = 28), 2-year-old (n = 26), and 3-year-old infants (n = 22) were included. Postnatal months when the infants began crawling, standing,
and walking were assessed. The intercondylar distance was measured, and the individual
quadriceps and subcutaneous fat thicknesses at the right mid-thigh were measured using
ultrasonography. The individual quadriceps:total quadriceps muscle thickness ratios
were calculated. Analysis of variance tests in the 3 groups were conducted for the
intercondylar distances and individual quadriceps thickness ratios, and correlation
coefficients between the parameters were evaluated in each group.
Findings
Intercondylar distance was longer in 1-year-old infants than in 2-year-old infants
(p < 0.001), without significant differences between 2-year-old and 3-year-old infants
(p = 0.33). The rectus femoris thickness ratio was higher in 1-year-old infants than
in 3-year-old infants (p = 0.013), whereas the vastus medialis thickness ratio was higher in 3-year-old infants
than in 2-year-old infants (p = 0.024). In 3-year-old infants, a larger subcutaneous fat thickness, but not postnatal
motor development, was correlated with a longer intercondylar distance and a lower
vastus medialis thickness ratio (rs = 0.53, p = 0.012; rs = −0.46, p = 0.032, respectively).
Interpretation
Further studies on the relationships between subcutaneous fat and knee alignment and
vastus medialis in juveniles, adolescents, young adults, and elderly people are expected.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 16, 2022
Accepted:
November 15,
2022
Received:
July 14,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
