Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Theophanis Siatras, Department of
Physical Education and Sports Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,
54006, Greece. Tel.: +30 2310 992179; E-mail: fsiatras@phed.auth.gr
Abstract: The aim of the study was to determine knee muscles absolute and
relative strength and power, as well as flexor/extensor (F/E) ratios, in
prepubescent male and female swimmers, during concentric isokinetic testing.
Twenty boys and 20 girls, aged 10–12 years, participated in this study.
Gravity corrected concentric isokinetic peak torque (strength) and average
power (power) were measured by a Cybex Norm dynamometer at the angular
velocities of 60, 120 and 180°/s, during unilateral
knee extensions and flexions. The relative values of strength and power were
expressed per kilogram of lean body mass. Knee extensors strength and power do
not differ significantly between boys and girls at the angular velocities of 60
and 120°/s. In contrast, at the higher angular
velocity of 180°/s boys exerted greater values than
girls (p < 0.01). With respect to the knee flexors, boys
exerted greater values than girls only at the angular velocities of 120 and
180°/s (p < 0.01). When relative strength and
relative power were calculated, no significant differences existed between boys
and girls for both muscle groups. Moreover, the shapes of strength-velocity and
power-velocity curves, as well as knee F/E ratios, were similar for both
groups.
