Influence of age and physical activity on isokinetic characteristics of hamstring and quadriceps muscles of young gymnasts and soccer players

• Published in: Annales de réadaptation et de médecine physique 2001-12, Vol.44 (9), p.581-590
• Main Authors: Amato, M, Lemoine, F, Gonzales, J, Schmidt, C, Afriat, P, Bernard, P L
• Format: Article
• Language: fre
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Gymnastics - physiology; Humans; Kinetics; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Soccer - physiology; Thigh
• ISSN: 0168-6054

The aim of this work is the assessment of age and sport influences on the isokinetic knee muscle characteristics. Subjects performed a bilateral knee flexion/extension test on an isokinetic device at 60 and 180 degrees.s(-1) speed in concentric mode. The three parameters studied in this work were the Peak Torque, Average Power and hamstring/quadriceps ratio. Thirty-eight soccer players (16,6 +/- 1.4 years old) and 22 gymnasts (18 +/- 2.8 years old) were tested. The population was separated into three groups : 15 years old, 17 years old, 20 years old. The isokinetic values of soccer players were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than those of the the gymnasts. The isokinetic values of the oldest soccer players were significantly higher (0.005 < p < 0.05) for hamstrings than those of the younger soccer players. The isokinetic values of the oldest gymnasts were significantly higher (0.005 < p < 0.05) for the quadriceps than those of the younger gymnasts. There were no significant differences between dominant and non dominant limbs in soccer players. In the present study, the muscular maturation improves the absolute strength of the older sportsmen in comparison to the younger. Soccer favor most the absolute strength of the inferior member in comparison to the gymnastics.