Filip Kojic; Radenko Arsenijevic & Sasa Duric
The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive role of selected morphological and anthropometric factors on muscle strength performance in single- and multi-joint resistance exercises. The sample consisted of 16 university students (seven females). Muscle strength was expressed as total external load, calculated as the sum of the one-repetition maximum (1RM) and the estimated mass of the involved body segments, determined according to Dempster’s anthropometric method. Strength performance was assessed using two exercises: a single-joint movement (preacher curl) and a multi-joint movement (parallel squat). Muscle thickness (MT) of the biceps brachii and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps femoris were assessed using ultrasound imaging, while total and segmental skeletal muscle mass (SMM) were estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Additionally, body height, body mass, and body mass index were measured. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships (p < 0.05) between total external load in both exercises and all examined morphological variables (r = 0.56-0.94). However, regression analysis identified biceps brachii MT as the strongest predictor of strength performance in the preacher curl (R2 = 0.882, p < 0.01), whereas leg SMM, body mass, and body height emerged as significant predictors of parallel squat performance (R2 = 0.873, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that strength performance in single-joint elbow flexion is primarily associated with the size of the involved muscle, while performance in multi-joint exercises such as the squat depends on a combination of muscle mass and anthropometric characteristics, reflecting the greater mechanical and coordinative complexity of the movement.
KEY WORDS: Preacher curl; Parallel squat; Muscle thickness; Cross-sectional area; InBody 720.
KOJIC, F.; ARSENIJEVIC, R. & DURIC, S. Morphological determinants of muscle strength in single and multi-joint movements: Influence of muscle dimensions and anthropometry. Int. J. Morphol., 44(3):821-828, 2026.
