Comparison of Peak Torque and Hamstring/Quadriceps Femoris Ratios During High-Velocity Isokinetic Exercise in Sprinters, Cross-Country Runners, and Normal Males*
Affiliations: [a] [a] Duke University Medical Center
Note: [*] Study done in partial fulfillment of a master of science at Duke University, Department of Occupational and Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Center.
Note: [**] Address reprint requests to Terry Malone, Box 3965, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the overall peak torque per kilogram body weight (peak torque/kg) and hamstring to quadriceps femoris (H/Q) peak torque ratios between 13 male intercollegiate sprint athletes, 10 male intercollegiate cross-country runners, and 11 normal males at angular velocities of 271, 375, 472 and 583 deg/sec. A modified Cybex II isokinetic dynamometer was used for all data collection. The dominant leg of each subject was tested at all four test velocities and the non-gravity-corrected peak torque/kg values of the hamstrings and quadriceps femoris as well as the H/Q peak torque ratios were analyzed. The results were: (1) Sprinters produced a significantly greater (p < 0.05) values for both hamstrings and quadriceps femoris than normals at 271, 472, and 583 deg/sec and significantly greater quadriceps femoris peak torque/kg than cross-country runners at 583 deg/sec. (2) Cross-country runners produced significantly greater peak torque/kg hamstring values than normals at 472 deg/sec. (3) No significant differences were found for H/Q peak torque ratios between groups at each speed or between speeds for each group. (4) The absolute differences between peak torque/kg values of the hamstrings and the quadriceps femoris decreased with increasing velocity for all groups. (5) Cross-country runners' hamstring peak torque/kg values exceeded the quadriceps peak torque/kg values at 583 deg/sec.
Keywords: Peak torque (quadriceps femoris and hamstring), high-velocity ratio sprinters, cross-country runners
