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Comparison of muscle strength and endurance between alcoholics and non-alcoholics

lndumathi M, Viji Devanand, Subathra S, Lovie Beneta T, Celine D, Umayal CC
Department of Physiology, Stanley Medical College, The Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract
  • Background: Alcoholics have restricted physical capacity, which could possibly be due to decreased muscle strength and endurance. Alcohol has an effect of reducing muscle protein synthesis. In addition to this, alcohol’s inhibitive effect on gluconeogenesis prevents these cells from producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the source of energy for muscle contraction.
  • Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the muscle strength and endurance between alcoholics who were alcohol dependent (Group I) and non-alcoholic apparently healthy subjects (Group II).
  • Materials and Methods: This study was performed in 55 alcoholics and SS non-alcoholic apparently healthy subjects in the age group of 20-SS years. Muscle strength and endurance were recorded using the handgrip dynamometer in both the groups. Muscle strength readings were denoted as Tmax (kg/sec). Endurance was recorded in seconds for the 30% and 50% of the Tmax values.
  • Results: In alcoholics,the Tmax, endurance at TSO% and T30% were 22.3±4.31,21.64±14.8, 16.33±8.77 respectively while in the non-alcoholics, Tmax, endurance at T5O% and T30% were 29.18±4.55, 30.25 ±8.13 and 23.22±7.98 respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the endurance a T30% values, between the groups, the values being lower in alcoholics when compared to the non-alcoholic group.
  • Conclusion: ur results suggest that alcohol has a negative impact on muscle strength and endurance as the endurance at T30% of the alcoholics was lower than that of the non-alcoholics. However although statistically significant, the clinical significance of this finding needs to be ascertained and by creating awareness of the adverse effects of alcohol among alcohol dependent individuals, their quality of life can be improved.

Keywords: alcoholics, endurance, muscle strength, Tmax