Reference values of static back extensor muscle endurance in healthy Nigerian adults.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to establish gender and age reference values of static back extensor muscle endurance in healthy Nigerian adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This study involved 373 consecutive participants aged between 21 and 60 years who were grouped into four age strata. A modification of the Sørensen test of Static Muscular Endurance (BSME) was used to quantify static endurance. The mean, standard deviation, range and 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile scores were determined for four gender/age categories. RESULTS Endurance time differed significantly across the age groups (F = 47.286; p = 0.000). Males exhibited higher mean endurance than females (t = 2.583; p = 0.010). Using percentiles, 25th (poor endurance), 25th-75th (medium endurance) and >75th (good endurance) percentile were 72, 72-161, and >161-240 s, respectively, for males; and 64, 64-142, and >142-236 s, respectively, for females. There was an age and gender variation in the median values. The results suggest that the significant age and anthropometric differences between the categories of participants could contribute to endurance differences. CONCLUSION This study established a set of reference values for static back endurance in healthy Nigerians. These values can be used to compare a patient's score at intake or as an outcome measure in clinical practice.