Investigation of The Hamstrıng/Quadriceps Ratio, Time to Peak Torque and Joint Angle at Peak Torque Characteristics of Female Soccer Players

Abstract

It is thought that time to peak torque and joint angle at peak torque parameters provide important data for the functional evaluation of quadriceps and hamstring muscles. It is known that studies with these parameters are rare in the literature. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio, time to peak torque and joint angle at peak torque parameters of female football players. The sample group of the study consisted of 20 female footballers performing in the national women's league (3rd Division). Measurements of the footballers’ knee joints, as 60°/sec. and 180°/sec. angular velocities were performed with the concentric/concentric protocol. The conformity of the data obtained from the footballers to the normal distribution was analized with the Shapiro-Wilk Test and it was determined that they showed a normal distribution. Relationships between parameters were analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficient. According to the results of the analysis, it was determined that there is a statistically significant relationship between the non-dominant 180°/sec H/Q ratio and the time to peak torque of the flexor muscle at 180º/sec angular velocity, and between the dominant 180°/sec H/Q ratio and the joint angle at peak torque 180°/sec flexion. (p0.05). As a result, it can be said that the H/Q ratios of female football players are not related to functional strength parameters (time to peak torque and joint angle at peak torque) and functional performance should be evaluated with different approaches.