The Effect of Different Methods of Strength Evaluation in Hamstrings / Quadriceps Muscle Group Ratio

Vasilis Gerodimos,1 Nikolaos Stavropoulos,2 Thanasis Tsiokanos,1 Eleutheria Katsareli, 2Thanasis Giannakos,2 & Spiros Kellis2

1Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Hellas

2 Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hellas

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of different methods evaluating strength in hamstrings/ quadriceps muscle group ratio. Twenty seven women (22.5 ± 1.1 years old), taking part in organized exercise programs, participated in this study. Strength of hamstrings and quadriceps muscle group was evaluated isokineticly (concentric and eccentric), isometricly and isotonicly. The hamstrings/quadriceps muscle group ratio (hamstrings strength/quadriceps strength * 100) was expressed in four ways: isokinetic concentric, isoki- netic eccentric, isometric and isotonic. One-way analysis of variance designs were applied to examine the effect of different methods evaluating strength in hamstrings/quadriceps muscle group ratio. The results indicated a statistically significant effect (p<.01) for the evaluation method in hamstrings/quadriceps muscle group ratio. The higher muscle group ratio was demonstrated after isokinetic concentric evaluation (69.5±8.9%) and the lower after isotonic evaluation (43.0±11.6%). In conclusion, the results of the study suggest that each evaluation method for the hamstrings/quadriceps muscle group ratio is unique, and therefore they should not be generalized from one method to another.

Key words: isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, concentric, eccentric, 1RM, knee, women