biostudies-literatureDeprez AFonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et TechnologiesCanadian Institutes of Health ResearchFonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et TechnologiesCIHR21457https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11399148biostudies-literatureUnknown14(1)Prematurity is associated with lower exercise capacity, which relies on the integrity of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle systems. Our animal model mimicking prematurity-associated conditions showed altered muscle composition and atrophy in adulthood. This study aimed to compare muscle composition and strength in adults born preterm versus full-term controls. This observational cohort study recruited 55 adults born preterm, ≤ 29 weeks' of gestation and 53 full-term controls who underwent musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging to assess morphology of the rectus femoris at rest and during a maximal voluntary contraction. Maximal voluntary contraction of the hands and legs were measured by manual dynamometry. In adults born preterm, there was lower muscle strength (handgrip: - 4Scientific reportsAdults born preterm have lower peripheral skeletal muscle area and strength.PMC11399148275929PJT-174993PJT-173404Mathieu MEDumont NANuyt AMDeprez AEl-Jalbout RGagnon DHLuu TMKugathasan TACloutier AGagnon Hamelin AfalseAdults born preterm have lower peripheral skeletal muscle area and strength.Prematurity is associated with lower exercise capacity, which relies on the integrity of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle systems. Our animal model mimicking prematurity-associated conditions showed altered muscle composition and atrophy in adulthood. This study aimed to compare muscle composition and strength in adults born preterm versus full-term controls. This observational cohort study recruited 55 adults born preterm, ≤ 29 weeks' of gestation and 53 full-term controls who underwent musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging to assess morphology of the rectus femoris at rest and during a maximal voluntary contraction. Maximal voluntary contraction of the hands and legs were measured by manual dynamometry. In adults born preterm, there was lower muscle strength (handgrip: - 42024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Sep2026-06-01T09:11:44.857Z2025-04-04T02:54:33.579ZS-EPMC113991483927174510.1038/s41598-024-72533-6