Are There Differences in Concentric Isokinetic Strength Perfor-Mance Profiles between International and Non-International Elite Soccer Players?

Robert Śliwowski, Jakub Marynowicz, Monika Grygorowicz, Andrzej Wieczorek and Łukasz Jadczak
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Robert Śliwowski: Department of Team Sports Games, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland
Jakub Marynowicz: Department of Team Sports Games, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland
Monika Grygorowicz: Department of Physiotherapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
Andrzej Wieczorek: Department of Team Sports Games, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland
Łukasz Jadczak: Department of Team Sports Games, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the differences in concentric isokinetic strength characteristics of the knee extensor and knee flexor musculature between international (IL) and non-international level (N-IL) soccer players. The second aim is to establish strength symmetry status in knee muscles for dominant (DL) and non-dominant (NDL) legs for both within and between groups. 100 male top elite soccer players (IL: n = 36, age = 27.5 ± 3.4 years and N-IL: n = 64, age = 27.7 ± 6.4 years) underwent concentric isokinetic strength tests, using a Biodex System 3 dynamometer. Results indicate that statistically significant differences between groups were noted for peak torque of hamstrings (PT-H), hamstrings/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio, and total work of hamstrings (TW-H), where mean values for the IL were similarly higher than for the N-IL group ( p = 0.006, p < 0.001, and p = 0.012, respectively). Our results also showed statistically significant differences for peak torque of quadriceps (PT-Q), PT-H, total work of quadriceps (TW-Q) and TW-H between legs, where mean values noted for the DL were higher than for the NDL for both groups ( p = 0.021, p < 0.001, p = 0.006, and p = 0.004, respectively). Additional results show that IL players presented more symmetrical strength between legs than N-IL. The results of this study indicate that that the greatest differences in isokinetic strength performance across players at different soccer levels relate to the hamstring muscle. As a result, systematic strength training of these muscle groups is strongly recommended.

Keywords: muscular strength profile; quadriceps; hamstring; H/Q ratio; total work (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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