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

Abstract

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. The subjects were a population-based sample of 122 monozygotic and 131 dizygotic male twin pairs aged 35 to 69 years (mean=49.9, SD=7.7). 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. 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. 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.