Isokinetic Thigh Muscle Ratios in Youth Football: Effect of Age and Dominance

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the effect of age on muscle peak torque (PT), and Hamstring (H): Quadricep (Q) ratio in elite youth footballers. To date, no study has considered age-group playing level and pubertal development in this population. One hundred and fifty-seven elite youth footballers in the age groups U12 to U18 volunteered to participate in this study, 133 of these were further grouped for pubertal development. Prior to testing subjects completed separate familiarisation, a three minute cycle ergometer warm up (resistance 50–60W), and two sub-maximal repetitions. Concentric and eccentric isokinetic PT measures for reps 2–4 of H and Q muscle action were taken at 60° s⁻¹. From this, conventional and functional H: Q ratio was calculated along with dominant: non dominant ratio for the concentric Q and H, and eccentric H conditions. Significant main effects were observed for the age/pubertal development group and PT in all muscles and conditions (P<0.05). Of particular interest was a significant main effect for age and Functional H: Q (P<0.05), which suggested a move away from equality at U18. Our study provides normative data for coaches, trainers and clinicians working with youth footballers and may also have connotations for injury prevention and performance.

isokinetic - youth football - H:Q ratio - injury prevention - soccer - pubertal development

References

• 1 Aagaard P, Simonsen EB, Magnusson SP, Larsson B, Dyhre-Poulsen P. A new concept for isokinetic hamstring: quadriceps muscle strength ratio.  Am J Sports Med. 1998;  26 231-237
• 2 Barber-Westin SD, Noyes FR, Galloway M. Jump-land characteristics and muscle strength development in young athletes: a gender comparison of 1140 athletes 9 to 17 years of age.  Am J Sports Med. 2006;  34 375-384
• 3 Chin MK, Lo YS, Li CT, So CH. Physiological profiles of Hong Kong elite soccer players.  Br J Sports Med. 1992;  26 262-266
• 4 Cometti G, Maffiuletti NA, Pousson M, Chatard JC, Maffulli N. Isokinetic strength and anaerobic power of elite, subelite and amateur French soccer players.  Int J Sports Med. 2001;  22 45-51
• 5 Coombs R, Garbutt G. Development in the use of the hamstring/quadriceps ratio for the assessment of muscle balance.  J Sci Med Sport. 2002;  1 56-62
• 6 Dauty M, Potiron-Josse M, Rochcongar P. Consequences and prediction of hamstring muscle injury with concentric and eccentric isokinetic parameters in elite soccer players.  Ann Readapt Med Phys. 2003;  46 601-606
• 7 De Ste Croix M. Advances in pediatric strength assessment: changing our perspective on strength development.  J Sci Med Sport. 2007;  6 292-304
• 8 De Ste Croix MBA, Deighan MA, Armstrong N. Assessment and Interpretation of isokinetic muscle strength during growth and maturation.  Sports Med. 2003;  33 727-743
• 9 Ellenbecker TS, Roetert EP, Sueyoshi T, Riewald S. A descriptive profile of age-specific knee extension flexion strength in elite junior tennis players.  Br J Sports Med. 2007;  41 728-732
• 10 Gerodimos V, Mandou V, Zafeiridis A, Ioakimidis P, Stavropoulos N, Kellis S. Isokinetic peak torque and hamstring/quadriceps ratios in young basketball players. Effects of age, velocity, and contraction mode.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2003;  43 444-452
• 11 Hansen L, Bangsbo J, Twisk J, Klausen K. Development of muscle strength in relation to training level and testosterone in young male soccer players.  J Appl Physiol. 1999;  87 1141-1147
• 12 Housh TJJ, Johnson GO, Housh DJ, Stout JP, Weir LL, Weir JP, Eckerson JM. Isokinetic peak torque in young wrestlers.  Pediatr Ex Sci. 1996;  8 143-155
• 13 Iga J, George K. Bilateral isokinetic knee strength profiles in trained junior soccer players and untrained individuals. In: Reilly T, Cabri J, Araujo D, eds. Science and Football: The Proceedings of the 5th World Congress on Sports Science and Football V. Oxford: Routledge 2005: 442-447
• 14 Jonhagen S, Nemeth G, Eriksson E. Hamstring injuries in sprinters. The role of concentric and eccentric hamstring muscle strength and flexibility.  Am J Sports Med. 1994;  22 262-266
• 15 Kearns CF, Isokawa M, Abe T. Architectural characteristics of dominant leg muscles in junior soccer players.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;  85 240-243
• 16 Kellis SG, Gerodimos V, Kellis E, Manou V. Bilateral isokinetic concentric and eccentric strength profiles of the knee extensors and flexors in young soccer players.  Isokinet Exerc Sci. 2001;  9 31-39
• 17 Kramer JF, Balsor BE. Lower extremity preference and knee extensor torques in intercollegiate soccer players.  Can J Sport Sci. 1990;  15 180-184
• 18 Leatt P, Shephard RJ, Plyley MJ. Specific muscular development in under-18 soccer players.  J Sports Sci. 1987;  5 165-175
• 19 Lees A, Nolan L. The biomechanics of soccer: a review.  J Sports Sci. 1998;  16 211-234
• 20 Malina RM, Bouchard C, Bar-Or O. Growth, Maturation and Physical Activity. 2nd ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics 2004
• 21 More RC, Karras BT, Neiman R, Fritschy D, Woo SLY, Daniel DM. Hamstrings-an anterior cruciate ligament protagonist. An in vitro study.  Am J Sports Med. 1993;  21 231-237
• 22 Oberg B, Moller M, Gillquist J, Ekstrand J. Isokinetic torque levels for knee extensors and knee flexors in soccer players.  Int J Sports Med. 1986;  7 50-53
• 23 Orchard J, Marsden J, Lord S, Garlick D. Preseason hamstring muscle weakness associated with hamstring muscle injury in Australian footballers.  Am J Sports Med. 1997;  25 81-85
• 24 Petersen ACC, Richards L, Boxer M. A self report measure of pubertal status: reliability, validity, and initial norms.  J Youth Adolescence. 1988;  17 117-133
• 25 Proske U, Morgan DL, Brockett CL, Percival P. Identifying athletes at risk of hamstring strains and how to protect them.  Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2004;  31 546-550
• 26 Rabin SI, Post M. A comparative study of clinical muscle testing and Cybex evaluation after shoulder operations.  Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990;  258 147-156
• 27 Richards J. Biomechanics in clinic and research. PA: Elsevier 2008
• 28 Rochcongar P, Morvan R, Jan J, Dassonville J, Beillot J. Isokinetic investigation of knee extensors and knee flexors in young French soccer players.  Int J Sports Med. 1988;  9 448-450
• 29 Tourny-Chollet CL, Leroy D, L’eger H, Beuret-Blanquar F. Isokinetic knee muscle strength of soccer players according to their position.  Isokinet Exerc Sci. 2000;  8 187-193
• 30 Woods C, Hawkins RD, Maltby S, Hulse M, Thomas A, Hodson A. The Football Association Medical Research Programme: an audit of injuries in professional football–analysis of hamstring injuries.  Br J Sports Med. 2004;  38 36-41
• 31 Zakas A. Bilateral isokinetic peak torque of quadriceps and hamstring muscles in professional soccer players with dominance on one or both two sides.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2006;  46 28-35

Correspondence