Investigation of Hip Extension and Flexion Muscle Strength in Female Weightlifting Athletes

Abstract

Objective: It was aimed to investigate hip flexion and extension muscle strength of female weightlifters athletes participating in national and international weightlifting championships. Methods: Hip extension, hip flexion strength measurements, weightlifting performances and demographic data of female athletes participating in international weightlifting championships (n= 15) and female athletes participating in national weightlifting championships (n= 15) included in our study were determined. Hip flexion/extension muscle strength measurements of the athletes were performed with a Lafayette hand-held dynamometer. Results: It was observed that hip flexion and extension muscle strength values of female weightlifters who do weightlifting at international level values were higher than the values of female weightlifters who do weightlifting at the national level (p < .05). There was a statistically significant difference between right-left hip-flexion values in female weightlifting athletes who do elite weightlifting sports (p < .05). Conclusion: It was determined that hip extension-flexion muscle strength of athletes participating in international championships were higher than hip extension-flexion muscle strength values of athletes participating in national championships. Considering that asymmetrical developments may cause sports injuries, it is thought that it is important to evaluate the asymmetrical development of hip muscle groups in certain periods.