Physical Capacity in Twins

Abstract

A comparison of physical capacity, (measured by vital capacity, muscular strength and physical work capacity) in twin boys and controls failed to indicate significant differences. Intrapair correlations showed the MZ twins to be much more similar than the DZ twins in all the capacity measures. The correlations were lower, however, for both MZ and DZ twins for physical work capacity than for the other two capacity variables. When amount of physical exercise during leisure time is kept under control, the DZ twins tend to be more similar for physical work capacity or muscular strength, and the correlations tend to be of the same magnitude for MZ twins. Physical work capacity therefore appears, in this study, to be a more environmentally influenced variable than either vital capacity or muscular strength.