Isokinetic Strength Profile of Elite Female Handball Players

• Authors: Zuzana Xaverova , Johannes Dirnberger , Michal Lehnert , Jan Belka , Herbert Wagner , Karolina Orechovska
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Systematic assessment of muscle strength of the lower extremities throughout the annual training cycle in athletes is crucial from a performance perspective for the optimization of the training process, as well as a health perspective with regard to injury prevention. The main aim of the present study was to determine isokinetic muscle strength of the knee flexors and extensors in female handball players at the beginning of a preparatory period and to assess whether there were any differences between players of different performance levels. The performance level was expressed by means of membership of the Women’s Junior National Handball Team (JNT, n=8) or the Women’s National Handball Team (NT, n=9). The isokinetic peak torque during concentric and eccentric single-joint knee flexion and extension was measured at angular velocities of 60, 180, 240°/s (concentric) and 60°/s (eccentric). The Mann- Whitney test showed no significant differences in the peak torques or ipsilateral ratios between the two groups. The bilateral force deficit (BFD) for concentric extension at 240°/s was significantly higher in the JNT compared with the NT (p=0.04; d=1.02). However, the results of individual evaluation show that the BFD was more frequent in the NT in most measurements. A high BFD was evident in the eccentric mode in both groups highlighting a need for particular strengthening. With regard to low strength ratios a prevention programme should be suggested for both observed groups of professional female handball players to reduce the risk of injury.

Keywords

EN

H/Q ratios; bilateral deficit; torque; strengthening

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Journal of Human Kinetics
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 49
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 257-266

Dates

published

1 - 12 - 2015

accepted

1 - 12 - 2015

online

30 - 12 - 2015

Contributors

author

Zuzana Xaverova

• Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University in Olomouc, Tr. Miru 115, 771 11 Olomouc , Czech Republic

author

Johannes Dirnberger

• Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Hallein-Salzburg, Austria

author

Michal Lehnert

• Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic

author

Jan Belka

• Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic

author

Herbert Wagner

• Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Hallein-Salzburg, Austria

author

Karolina Orechovska

• Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic

References

• 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
• Andrade MDS, De Lira CAB, Koffes FDC, Mascarin NC, Benedito-Silva AA, Da Silva AC. Isokinetic hamstrings-to-quadriceps peak torque ratio: The influence of sport modality, gender, and angular velocity. J Sports Sci, 2012; 30: 547-553[WoS][Crossref]
• Ayala F, De Ste Croix M, Sainz de Baranda P, Santonja F. Absolute reliability of hamstring to quadriceps strength imbalance ratios calculated using peak torque, joint angle-specific torque and joint ROMspecific torque values. Int J Sports Med, 2012; 33: 1-8[WoS]
• Bencke J, Curtis D, Krogshede C, Jensen L, Bandholm T, Zebis M. Biomechanical evaluation of the sidecutting manoeuvre associated with ACL injury in young female handball players. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc, 2013; 21: 1876-1881[Crossref][WoS]
• Carvalho A, Mourao P, Abade E. Effects of strength training combined with specific plyometric exercises on body composition, vertical jump height and lower limb strength development in elite male handball players: a case study. J Hum Kinet, 2014; 41: 125-132[Crossref][WoS]
• Cohen J. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.; 1988
• Coombs R, Garbutt G. Developments in the use of the hamstring/quadriceps ratio for the assessment of muscle balance. J Sports Sci Med, 2002; 1: 56-62
• Dauty M, Potiron-Josse M, Rochcongar P. Identification of previous hamstring muscle injury by isokinetic concentric and eccentric torque measurement in elite soccer player. Isokinet Exerc Sci, 2003; 11: 139-144
• Dervišević E, Hadzic V. Quadriceps and hamstrings strength in team sports: Basketball, football and volleyball. Isokinet Exerc Sci, 2012; 20: 293-300[WoS]
• Dirnberger J, Wiesinger H-P, Kösters A, Müller E. Reproducibility for isometric and isokinetic maximum knee flexion and extension measurements using the IsoMed 2000-dynamometer. Isokinet Exerc Sci, 2012; 20: 149-153[WoS]
• Enoka RM. Eccentric contractions require unique activation strategies by the nervous system. J Appl Physiol, 1996; 81: 2339-2346
• Garrett WE, Califf JC, Bassett FH. Histochemical correlates of hamstring injuries. Am J Sports Med, 1984; 12: 98[Crossref]
• Hadzic V, Sattler T, Markovic G, Veselko M, Dervisevic E. The isokinetic strength profile of quadriceps and hamstrings in elite volleyball players. Isokinet Exerc Sci, 2010; 18: 31-37[WoS]
• Harbo T, Brincks J, Andersen H. Maximal isokinetic and isometric muscle strength of major muscle groups related to age, body mass, height, and sex in 178 healthy subjects. Eur J Appl Physiol, 2012; 112: 267-275[Crossref][WoS]
• Houweling TAW, Head A, Hamzeh MA. Validity of isokinetic testing for previous hamstring injury detection in soccer players. Isokinet Exerc Sci, 2009; 17: 213-220[WoS]
• Iga J, George K, Lees A, Reilly T. Cross-sectional investigation of indices of isokinetic leg strength in youth soccer players and untrained individuals. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 2009; 19: 714-719[WoS][Crossref]
• Lohmander LS, Englund PM, Dahl LL, Roos EM. The long-term consequence of anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries osteoarthritis. Am J Sports Med, 2007; 35: 1756-1769[Crossref]
• Lorenz DS, Reiman MP, Walker JC. Periodization: Current review and suggested implementation for athletic rehabilitation. Sports Health, 2010; 2: 509-518[Crossref]
• Lund-Hanssen H, Holen K, Hammer S, Gannon J, Engebretsen L. Isokinetic muscle performance in healthy female handball players and players with a unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 1996; 6: 172-175[Crossref]
• Maly T, Zahalka F, Mala L. Muscular strength and strength asymmetries in elite and sub-elite professional soccer players. Sport Sci, 2014; 7: 26-33
• Maly T, Zahalka F, Mala L, Cech P. The bilateral strength and power asymmetries in untrained boys. Open Med, 2015; 10: 2391-5463[Crossref]
• Myklebust G, Maehlum S, Engebretsen L, Strand T, Solheim E. Registration of cruciate ligament injuries in Norwegian top level team handball. A prospective study covering two seasons. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 1997; 7: 289-292[Crossref]
• Myklebust G, Maehlum S, Holm I, Bahr R. A prospective cohort study of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in elite Norwegian team handball. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 1998; 8: 149-153[Crossref]
• Negrete RJ, Schick EA, Cooper JP. Lower-limb dominance as a possible etiologic factor in noncontact anterior cruciate ligament tears. J Strength Cond Res, 2007; 21: 270-273[Crossref][WoS]
• Stastny P, Lehnert M, Zaatar ZAM, Svoboda Z, Xaverova Z, Pietraszewski P. The gluteus medius vs. thigh muscles strength ratio and their relation to electromyography amplitude during a farmer’s walk exercise. J Hum Kinet, 2015; 45: 157-165 (a)[Crossref][WoS]
• Stastny P, Lehnert M, Zaatar ZAM, Svoboda Z, Xaverova Z, Jelen K. Knee joint muscles neuromuscular activity during load-carrying walking. Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 2014; 35: 633-639
• Stastny P, Tufano JJ, Lehnert M, Golas A, Zaatar ZAM, Xaverova Z, Maszczyk A. Hip abductors and thigh muscles strength ratio and their relation to alectromyography amplitude during split squat and walking lunge exercise. Acta Univ. Palacki. Olomuc., Gymn., 2015; 45: 51-59 (b)
• Stocker BD, Nyland J, Caborn DNM. Concentric isokinetic knee torque characteristics of female volleyball athletes. Isokinet Exerc Sci, 1996; 5: 111-114
• Stølen T, Chamari K, Castagna C, Wisløff U. Physiology of soccer: An update. Sports Med, 2005; 35: 501-536[WoS][Crossref]
• Wrigley TW. Assessment for football: Soccer, Australian rules, and American. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 407-428; 2000

Identifiers

DOI

10.1515/hukin-2015-0128