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Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(3): 192-197
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1243642
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Use of the Functional H:Q Ratio to Assess Fatigue in Soccer

A. Delextrat1 , J. Gregory2 , D. Cohen1
  • 1London Metropolitan University, Faculty of Life Sciences, London, United Kingdom
  • 2London Metropolitan University, Faculty of Life Sciences, Macclesfield, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision November 28, 2009

Publication Date:
15 February 2010 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fatigue induced by a field test representative of soccer specific movements on different hamstrings:quadriceps ratios in the dominant and non-dominant legs at two different velocities. Eight male football players (age: 21.3±2.3 years; height: 178±8 cm; body mass: 78±9 kg; playing level: British University Southern conference-3B) performed a pre-test to assess the concentric and eccentric strength of the hamstrings and the quadriceps at 60°·s−1 and 180°·s−1, The Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) to simulate soccer, and a post-test similar to the pre-test. The main findings demonstrated significant decreases in the Hcon:Qcon ratio (calculated as the maximal concentric hamstrings strength divided by the maximal concentric quadriceps strength) in the dominant leg at 180°·s−1 and in the functional ratio Hecc:Qcon (calculated as the maximal eccentric hamstrings strength divided by the maximal concentric quadriceps strength) in the dominant leg at 60°·s−1 and 180°·s−1. In addition, significant correlations were observed between physiological parameters measured during the soccer-specific exercise and Hecc:Qcon only. These results suggested that the functional Hecc:Qcon ratio is more representative of fatigue induced by soccer than the conventional Hcon:Qcon ratio. Eccentric strength training at high velocities may be necessary to reduce injury risk in soccer players.

Key words

eccentric strength - hamstrings - fatigue

References

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Correspondence

Dr. Anne Delextrat

London Metropolitan University

Faculty of Life Sciences

166–220 Holloway road

N78DB London

United Kingdom

Phone: +44 207 133 4686

Fax: +44 207 133 4149

Email: a.delextrat@londonmet.ac.uk