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The Role of Genetics and Environment in Lifting Force and Isometric Trunk Extensor Endurance

A Ropponen, PT, MSc, is Senior Assistant of Ergonomics, Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland (annina.ropponen{at}uku.fi), and is a doctoral student, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
E Levälahti, MSc, is Statistician, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
T Videman, PhD, is Professor and Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Scientist, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
J Kaprio, PhD, is Professor, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki
MC Battié, PT, PhD, is Professor and Canada Research Chair, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta

Address all correspondence to Ms Ropponen at the first address

Background and Purpose. Our understanding of what different back performance tests are measuring is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative contributions of genetics and unique and common environmental factors for 3 tests of back muscle performance in a classic twin analysis. Subjects. The subjects were a population-based sample of 122 monozygotic and 131 dizygotic male twin pairs aged 35 to 69 years (=49.9, SD=7.7). Methods. Variance component analysis was applied to estimate genetic and environmental influences on isokinetic and psychophysical lifting and isometric trunk extensor endurance test performance. The Cholesky decomposition genetic factor model was used to estimate genetic and environmental correlations of these variables. Path analysis was applied to study determinants of isokinetic and psychophysical lifting and isometric trunk extensor endurance test performance. Results. Genetic effects accounted for 60%, 33%, and 5% of the total variance of isokinetic and psychophysical lifting forces and isometric trunk extensor endurance, respectively, and unique environmental factors accounted for 35%, 49%, and 61% of the variance. Discussion and Conclusion. Genetics had a dominant role in isokinetic lifting and unique environmental factors in isometric trunk extensor endurance. The relatively high role of genetics in lifting force suggests the potential to increase and sustain changes in back muscle force in the general population may be particularly challenging.

Key Words: Back muscle performance • Endurance • Environment • Genetics • Muscle force

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