Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Greece | [b] Sports Biomechanics Laboratory, Hellenic Sports Research Institute, Greece
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Vassilis Paschalis, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Karies, 42100, Trikala, Greece. Tel.: +30 2431047014; E-mail:vpaschalis@pe.uth.gr
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The movements that soccer players have to perform
during a game depend on lower limb muscles strength and clearly players with
higher strength levels are able to perform better turning, sprinting and
changing pace. OBJECTIVE: To compare the isokinetic peak torque of the knee
extensors in a large number of elite Greek soccer players in relation to
their position on the playing field. METHODS: Two-hundred and seventy-five soccer players: goalkeepers
(n= 24), fullbacks (n= 67), center backs (n= 59), midfield players (n= 76) and
forwards (n= 49) from the first division in Greece participated in this
study. All participants performed an isokinetic test of the knee extensors
at 30, 60 and 180°/s. RESULTS: In terms of knee extension strength the goalkeepers were
the strongest while the fullbacks were the weakest players but strength
normalization resulted in uniform knee extension strength irrespective of
field position. CONCLUTIONS: The present findings provide a reference system for
knee extension strength in soccer players.
