<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Study aim:</italic> To determine muscle strength variables in elite judoists and wrestlers since thigh muscle strength and bilaterally balanced flexor-to-extensor ratio minimise injury risk and are desirable for achieving sport successes.<italic>Material and methods:</italic> Judoists, wrestlers and untrained subjects, 10 each, were subjected to isokinetic strength measurements of relative peak torques of knee flexor and extensor muscles on "Easy-Tech" dynamometer in concentric-concentric mode.<italic>Results:</italic> Mean relative peak muscle torques for knee flexors ranged from 1.14 ±0.27 (untrained) to 1.57 ±0.40 (judoists) N·m/kg and for knee extensors from 2.77 ± 0.34 (untrained) to 3.60 ± 0.64 (wrestlers) N·m/kg. The flexor-to-extensor ratios ranged from 39.3 ± 6.0 to 47.8 ± 10.8% and did not differ significantly between groups. Absolute right/left asymmetry for knee flexors ranged from 14.6 ± 10.4 to 17.4 ± 11.8% and was significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher than for knee extensors (7.2 ± 6.8 to 8.6 ± 7.7%). All asymmetry indices were significant (p&lt;0.01), no significant between group differences being detected.<italic>Conclusions:</italic> Implementing new training elements and modalities may improve the performance and prevent lateral asymmetry thus decreasing the risk of injuries.</abstract>

Study aim: To determine muscle strength variables in elite judoists and wrestlers since thigh muscle strength and bilaterally balanced flexor-to-extensor ratio minimise injury risk and are desirable for achieving sport successes.Material and methods: Judoists, wrestlers and untrained subjects, 10 each, were subjected to isokinetic strength measurements of relative peak torques of knee flexor and extensor muscles on "Easy-Tech" dynamometer in concentric-concentric mode.Results: Mean relative peak muscle torques for knee flexors ranged from 1.14 ±0.27 (untrained) to 1.57 ±0.40 (judoists) N·m/kg and for knee extensors from 2.77 ± 0.34 (untrained) to 3.60 ± 0.64 (wrestlers) N·m/kg. The flexor-to-extensor ratios ranged from 39.3 ± 6.0 to 47.8 ± 10.8% and did not differ significantly between groups. Absolute right/left asymmetry for knee flexors ranged from 14.6 ± 10.4 to 17.4 ± 11.8% and was significantly (p<0.01) higher than for knee extensors (7.2 ± 6.8 to 8.6 ± 7.7%). All asymmetry indices were significant (p<0.01), no significant between group differences being detected.Conclusions: Implementing new training elements and modalities may improve the performance and prevent lateral asymmetry thus decreasing the risk of injuries.

Asymmetry of muscle strength in elite athletes

Faculty of Sport and Physical Education Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Biomedical Human Kinetics

{"article-title":"Asymmetry of muscle strength in elite athletes"}

Study aim: To determine muscle strength variables in elite judoists and wrestlers since thigh muscle strength and bilaterally balanced flexor-to-extensor ratio...

Asymmetry of muscle strength in elite athletes

Published Online: Apr 06, 2009

Page range: 3 - 5

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-009-0002-1

Keywords
Functional asymmetry, Muscle strength, Peak torque, Judo, Wrestling

This content is open access.

Asymmetry of muscle strength in elite athletes

Published Online: Apr 06, 2009

Page range: 3 - 5

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-009-0002-1

KeywordsFunctional asymmetry, Muscle strength, Peak torque, Judo, Wrestling

This content is open access.

Keywords
Functional asymmetry, Muscle strength, Peak torque, Judo, Wrestling