Active adults have thicker peripheral muscles and diaphragm: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The association between exercise and muscle build-up is a long-run connection. Whereas limited physical activity doesn't do well with muscle build-up. But how much is that difference in muscle thickness between different levels of physical activity? Aim: To understand this we conducted a cross-sectional study to associate physical activity and sitting time with the muscle thickness of the lower limb and diaphragm. Methods: Patients ranging from 18-35 were chosen for this study. After enquiring about lifestyle factors like -smoking and drinking, out of 91 patients 30 patients smoke regularly and 6 patients had drinking habits. Also regarding occupation, 74.7% were employed and 25% were unemployed. We conducted this study on 91 participants who were grouped based on self-reported physical activity and sitting time levels based on IPAQ scores and underwent ultrasonography for quadriceps (rectus femoris and vastus intermedialis), soleus muscle, and diaphragm. Results: We found that the lower limb muscles have shown statistically significant differences between vigorous physical activity (VPA) and lower physical activity (LPA). We found that the quadriceps muscle(rectus femoris and vastus intermedialis) thickness was 1.3 cm in LPA whereas 2.8 cm in VPA with (p=<0.001) soleus muscle thickness being 1 cm in LPA and 2.2 cm. Conclusions: Physical activity levels are found to be positively related to the peripheral muscle thickness VPA (p=<0.001). Physical activity levels are found to be positively related to peripheral muscle thickness.研究背景：运动与肌肉生长之间存在长期关联，而缺乏体力活动不利于肌肉生长。然而，不同体力活动水平间的肌肉厚度差异究竟有多大？ 研究目的：为明确上述问题，本研究开展一项横断面调查，旨在探讨体力活动与久坐时长和下肢及膈肌肌肉厚度的关联。 研究方法：本研究纳入18~35岁的受试者。在调研吸烟、饮酒等生活方式因素后，91名受试者中，30名有规律吸烟史，6名存在饮酒习惯；职业分布方面，74.7%的受试者为在职状态，25%为失业状态。本研究共纳入91名参与者，基于自我报告的体力活动与久坐时长，结合国际体力活动问卷（International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ）评分进行分组，随后对股四头肌（股直肌与股中间肌）、比目鱼肌及膈肌进行超声检查。 研究结果：相较于低强度体力活动（Low Physical Activity, LPA）组，大强度体力活动（Vigorous Physical Activity, VPA）组的下肢肌肉厚度存在统计学显著差异。其中，LPA组股四头肌（股直肌与股中间肌）厚度为1.3cm，VPA组为2.8cm（p<0.001）；LPA组比目鱼肌厚度为1cm，VPA组为2.2cm。 研究结论：本研究发现，体力活动水平与外周肌肉厚度呈正相关；其中大强度体力活动与外周肌肉厚度的关联具有统计学显著性（p<0.001）。