Table 2 Measurements of muscle morphology, muscle function (contractile properties and strength) and lower extremity functional capability from 18 –70yrs of age in the whole sample (n = 274), females (n = 156) and males (n = 118)

Total sample size

73

50

50

50

51

Female sample

41

26

20

34

35

Male sample

32

24

30

16

16

Muscle thickness (cm)

2.0 ± .34 ^*

1.44 – 3.24

1.82 ± .37

1.10 – 2.91

1.89 ± .31

1.23 – 2.53

1.56 ± .34^*

.84 – 2.36

1.42 ± .28^* 

1.00 – 2.10

Female

1.93 ± .25^*

1.44 – 2.66

1.60 ± .20

1.10 – 2.00

1.61 ± .21

1.23 – 1.97

1.41 ± .25^*

.84 – 1.93

1.33 ± .22^* 

1.00 – 2.02

Male

2.19 ± .39^*

1.65 – 3.24

2.09 ± .36

1.58 – 2.91

2.06 ± .24

1.68 – 2.53

1.89 ± .27^*

1.46 – 2.36

1.61 ± .30^* 

1.08 – 2.10

Pennation angle (°)

15.28 ± 2.18^*

10.71 – 24.22

14.15 ± 1.88

9.70 – 18.14

14.18 ± 1.81

10.72 – 19.55

12.81 ± 1.65^* 

8.71 – 16.36

12.23 ± 1.79^* 

8.77 -18.32

Female

14.94 ± 1.71^*

10.71 – 20.66

13.29 ± 1.72

9.70 – 17.99

13.09 ± 1.30

10.72 – 15.80

12.19 ± 1.46^*

8.71 – 14.85

11.62 ± 1.41^* 

8.77 – 15.41

Male

15.71 ± 2.64^*

11.94 – 24.22

15.16 ± 1.53

12.62 – 18.14

14.84 ± 1.77

12.13 – 19.55

14.16 ± 1.17

12.15 – 16.36

13.54 ± 1.85^* 

11.07 – 18.32

Fascicle length (cm)

8.34 ± 1.03^*

6.21 – 11.82

7.99 ± 1.17

5.69 – 10.55

8.01 ± .75

6.35 – 9.70

7.72 ± .91^*

5.92 – 9.90

7.33 ± .89^* 

6.03 – 9.58

Female

8.24 ± 1.09^*

6.21 – 11.82

7.57 ± .92

5.69 – 9.42

7.79 ± .62

6.35 – 8.90

7.54 ± .88^*

5.92 – 9.74

7.31 ± .86^* 

6.03 – 9.21

Male

8.47 ± .94^*

6.35 – 10.24

8.48 ± 1.26

6.08 – 10.55

8.15 ± .80

6.75 – 9.70

8.12 ± .86

6.93 – 9.90

7.39 ± .96^*

6.22 – 9.58

Echo intensity (mean pixels)

56.89 ± 21.28^*

18.71 – 99.68

73.20 ± 20.25

33.01 – 112.72

73.14 ± 19.32

24.52 – 104.78

87.61 ± 24.23^*

45.81 – 145.34

85.48 ± 29.63^* 

25.66 – 146.51

Female

62.54 ± 21.11^*

29.34 – 99.68

84.46 ± 15.80

49.86 – 112.72

89.13 ± 12.07

52.96 – 104.78

96.86 ± 22.30^*

45.81 – 145.34

97.89 ± 24.72^* 

47.32 – 146.51

Male

49.64 ± 19.50^*

18.71 – 88.75

59.98 ± 16.74

33.01 – 91.39

63.02 ± 15.92

24.52 – 93.52

66.65 ± 12.72^*

48.42 – 86.49

58.33 ± 19.89 

25.66 – 92.20

Max.displacement (mm)

4.45 ± 2.32^*

.19 – 9.56

2.76 ± 1.66

.10 – 8.04

3.07 ± 1.90

.37 – 9.56

2.83 ± 1.65^*

.73 – 7.17

2.82 ± 1.65^*

.22 – 8.17

Female

3.93 ± 2.39^*

.19 – 8.42

2.34 ± 1.42

.10 – 4.99

2.49 ± 1.47

.37 – 5.68

2.69 ± 1.73

73 – 7.17

2.46 ± 1.65^*

.22 – 8.17

Male

5.10 ± 2.07^*

1.47 – 9.56

3.25 ± 1.81

.60 – 8.04

3.42 ± 2.07

.44 – 9.56

3.14 ± 1.44^*

1.04 – 5.95

3.57 ± 1.41^*

.66 – 5.98

Contraction time (ms)

38.80 ± 12.16^*

13.91 – 84.55

39.14 ± 17.20

10.19 – 79.80

36.96 ± 14.57 

13.32 – 74.68

46.82 ± 14.23^*

16.37 – 70.62

46.31 ± 14.59* 

19.83 – 76.18

Female

39.40 ± 13.80

13.91 – 84.55

44.78 ± 18.74

10.19 – 79.80

41.72 ± 15.85

14.84 – 74.68

48.40 ± 13.28

20.52 – 70.62

46.78 ± 15.46 

21.00 – 76.18

Male

38.05 ± 9.90

19.12 – 53.67

32.51 ± 12.60

15.51 – 62.32

34.04 ± 13.15

13.32 – 73.71

43.10 ± 16.17

16.37 – 69.00

45.31 ± 12.99 

19.83 – 62.51

Grip strength (kg)

36.98 ± 10.03^*

18.00 – 66.13

39.61 ± 11.25

22.43 – 68.63

41.77 ± 13.20

17.67 – 78.73

32.26 ± 9.59^*

18.93 – 61.47

29.32 ± 9.37^* 

12.77 – 57.10

Female

30.98 ± 6.56^*

18.00 – 48.20

31.10 ± 4.49

22.43 – 39.73

30.06 ± 6.41

17.67 – 44.13

26.99 ± 4.40^*

18.93 – 38.20

46.78 ± 15.46^* 

12.77 – 33.13

Male

44.67 ± 8.34

25.30 – 66.13

46.61 ± 8.06

36.53 – 68.63

48.95 ± 10.95

29.40 – 78.73

43.45 ± 7.83 

32.13 – 61.47

39.74 ± 8.88 

28.77 – 57.10

5 × chair rise (secs)

5.86 ± 1.59^*

3.33 – 10.68

6.14 ± 1.58

3.29 – 11.51

6.29 ± 1.38

4.00 – 10.30

6.66 ± 1.51^* 

4.00 – 10.80

7.42 ± 1.92^* 

4.52 – 12.20

Female

5.69 ± 1.54^*

3.33 – 9.33

6.19 ± 1.20

4.15 – 8.53

6.26 ± 1.36

4.10 – 8.90

6.85 ± 1.72^* 

4.00 – 10.80

7.52 ± 2.08^* 

4.52 – 12.20

Male

6.07 ± 1.65

3.94 – 10.68

6.08 ± 1.96

3.29 – 11.51

6.31 ± 1.41

4.00 – 10.30

6.24 ± .85 

4.60 – 8.30

7.20 ± 1.53 

5.40 – 10.65

1-min chair rise

53.47 ± 13.58^*

28.00 – 78.00

49.30 ± 12.14

26.00 – 76.00

48.20 ± 11.74

27.00 – 80.00

45.00 ± 10.47^* 

18.00 – 67.00

40.61 ± 11.64^* 

20.0 – 70.00

Female

53.88 ± 13.91^*

28.00 – 78.00

47.52 ± 10.71

32.00 – 68.00

48.37 ± 11.54

31.00 – 75.00

42.29 ± 10.13^* 

18.00 – 62.00

40.29 ± 11.40^* 

20.00 – 70.00

Male

52.94 ± 13.34^*

32.00 – 78.00

51.39 ± 13.56

26.00 – 76.00

48.10 12.05

50.75 – 80.00

50.75 ± 8.99 

35.00 – 67.00

41.31 ± 12.51^* 

25.0 – 66.00

METs

4420.48 ± 2452.66^*

99 – 14,319

2884.12 ± 1776.39^*

446 – 9225

3232.47 ± 2187.42^*

0 – 9996

2660.67 ± 1937.10^*

132 – 10,890

2699.68 ± 1747.85^* 

438 – 11,070

Female

4445.82 ± 2036.551^*

495 – 8244

2564.92 ± 1866.13^*

693 – 9225

2405.92 ± 1163.00^*

462 – 5772

2208.56 ± 1239.75^* 

132 – 5772

2445.86 ± 1333.65^*

438 – 5346

Male

4388.02 ± 2935.65

99 – 14,319

3244.96 ± 1634.32

446 – 7812

3765.73 ± 2523.64

0 – 9996

3621.41 ± 2725.52 

1512 – 10,890

3254.91 ± 2381.71 

822 – 11,070