scholarly journals Influence of Fatigue on the Rapid Hamstring/Quadriceps Force Capacity in Soccer Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingshan Zhang ◽  
Baptiste Morel ◽  
Robin Trama ◽  
Christophe A. Hautier

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of fatigue on maximal and rapid force capacities and muscular activation of the knee extensors and flexors. Seventeen professional soccer players volunteered to participate in this study. Peak torque (Tpeak) and rate of torque development (RTD) of knee flexor (90°. s–1, −30°. s–1) and extensor (90°. s–1) muscles were measured before and after fatigue (i.e., 30 maximal knee extension and flexion repetitions at 180°s–1) performed on an isokinetic dynamometer. Hamstring to quadriceps peak strength and RTD ratios were calculated. Besides, using surface EMG, the mean level of activation (RMSmean), Rate of EMG Rise (RER), and EMG Frequency-Time maps were measured on quadriceps and hamstring muscles. Following fatigue, Tpeak, RTD, RER declined significantly in the two muscle groups (all p < 0.05) without modification of RMSmean. No decrease in conventional and functional H/Q ratios was observed after fatigue except for a significant increase in the Hecc30/Qcon180 ratios (1.03 ± 0.19 vs. 1.36 ± 0.33, p < 0.001). Besides, the RTD H/Q ratios decreased significantly after fatigue, and the statistical parametric mapping analysis (SPM) performed on the EMG/angle curves, and EMG Frequency-Time maps showed that fatigue strongly influenced the muscle activation during the first 100 ms of the movement, following the higher EMG frequency component shift toward the lower frequency component. Our results show that the reduction of RTD and RER during the first 100 ms of the contraction after fatigue exercise makes more sense than any H/Q ratio modification in understanding injury risk in soccer players.

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Mitchell ◽  
Rotem Cohen ◽  
Raffy Dotan ◽  
David Gabriel ◽  
Panagiota Klentrou ◽  
...  

Previous studies in adults have demonstrated power athletes as having greater muscle force and muscle activation than nonathletes. Findings on endurance athletes are scarce and inconsistent. No comparable data on child athletes exist.Purpose:This study compared peak torque (Tq), peak rate of torque development (RTD), and rate of muscle activation (EMG rise, Q30), in isometric knee extension (KE) and fexion (KF), in pre- and early-pubertal power- and endurance-trained boys vs minimally active nonathletes.Methods:Nine gymnasts, 12 swimmers, and 18 nonathletes (7–12 y), performed fast, maximal isometric KE and KF. Values for Tq, RTD, electromechanical delay (EMD), and Q30 were calculated from averaged torque and surface EMG traces.Results:No group differences were observed in Tq, normalized for muscle cross-sectional area. The Tq-normalized KE RTD was highest in power athletes (6.2 ± 1.9, 4.7 ± 1.2, 5.0 ± 1.5 N·m·s–1, for power, endurance, and nonathletes, respectively), whereas no group differences were observed for KF. The KE Q30 was significantly greater in power athletes, both in absolute terms and relative to peak EMG amplitude (9.8 ± 7.0, 5.9 ± 4.2, 4.4 ± 2.2 mV·ms and 1.7 ± 0.8, 1.1 ± 0.6, 0.9 ± 0.5 (mV·ms)/(mV) for power, endurance, and nonathletes, respectively), with no group differences in KF. The KE EMD tended to be shorter (P = .07) in power athletes during KE (71.0 ± 24.1, 87.8 ± 18.0, 88.4 ± 27.8 ms, for power, endurance, and nonathletes), with no group differences in KF.Conclusions:Pre- and early-pubertal power athletes have enhanced rate of muscle activation in specifically trained muscles compared with controls or endurance athletes, suggesting that specific training can result in muscle activation-pattern changes before the onset of puberty.


2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Carvalho ◽  
Scott Brown ◽  
Eduardo Abade

AbstractStrength imbalances between the hamstrings and quadriceps are an essential predictor for hamstring strain in soccer. The study aimed to investigate and compare the muscle strength imbalances of professional soccer players of different performance levels. One hundred and fifty nine senior male professional soccer players from first (n = 75) and second league (n = 84) Portuguese clubs participated in this study. Muscle strength was evaluated with a REV9000 isokinetic dynamometer. Maximal peak torque data were used to calculate quadriceps and hamstrings strength during concentric and eccentric actions, bilateral asymmetry, conventional strength ratios and dynamic control ratios. Second league athletes produced slightly lower conventional strength ratios in the right and left legs (ES = 0.22, p = 0.17 and ES = 0.36, p = 0.023, respectively) compared to the first league athletes. No significant differences were found in dynamic control ratios or in bilateral asymmetry among first and second league athletes. These findings do not show a clear link between the competitive level and injury risk in soccer players. However, some of the differences found, particularly in conventional strength ratios, highlight the importance of performing off-season and pre-season strength assessments to prescribe and adjust individual strength training programs among professional soccer players.


Author(s):  
Sílvia Ribeiro Santos Araujo ◽  
Fabiola Bertu Medeiros ◽  
Alvaro Dressler Zaidan ◽  
Eduardo Mendonça Pimenta ◽  
Edgardo Alvares de Campos Abreu ◽  
...  

Prospective studies have indicated that assessing muscle function by the isokinetic test in the preseason is able to identify muscle strength variables that can be associated with injuries in the hamstring muscles of professional soccer players. However, the results are conflicting and could be related to the different cutoff points for the categorization of athletes in asymmetric or symmetric. Based on these conflicting results, the present study aims to: i) Identify the cutoff points of lateral asymmetry (LA) of the 95% confidence interval for the peak torque in soccer players, evaluated by the isokinetic test, taking into consideration the mean population value; ii) Compare LA between 15% cutoff point proposed in literature and the upper limit of 95% confidence interval (UP) of the study population. Sixty-four professional soccer players performed five knee flexion and extension repetitions at rate of 60°/s, with a one-minute interval. To determine the cutoff point for strength asymmetries, the UP was used, and for the purpose of diagnostic concordance of information among the different values, the McNemar’s χ² test was applied. The proportion between symmetric and asymmetric athletes was not different from the 15% cutoff point and the general population, both for knee flexors (χ² = 0.5, p = 0.250) and the knee extensors (χ² = 2.0, p = 0.125). It was concluded that the cutoff point of 15% referenced in literature for the general population provides similar diagnostic information for the classification of professional soccer players. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Książek ◽  
Aleksandra Zagrodna ◽  
Wioletta Dziubek ◽  
Bogdan Pietraszewski ◽  
Bartosz Ochmann ◽  
...  

AbstractVitamin D is mainly known for its effects on the bone and calcium metabolism. The discovery of Vitamin D receptors in many extraskeletal cells suggests that it may also play a significant role in other organs and systems. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between 25(OH)D3 levels, lower limb isokinetic strength and maximum oxygen uptake in well-trained professional football players. We enrolled 43 Polish premier league soccer players. The mean age was 22.7±5.3 years. Our study showed decreased serum 25(OH)D3 levels in 74.4% of the professional players. The results also demonstrated a lack of statistically significant correlation between 25(OH)D3 levels and lower limb muscle strength with the exception of peak torque of the left knee extensors at an angular velocity of 150°/s (r=0.41). No significant correlations were found between hand grip strength and maximum oxygen uptake. Based on our study we concluded that in well-trained professional soccer players, there was no correlation between serum levels of 25(OH)D3 and muscle strength or maximum oxygen uptake.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000868
Author(s):  
Ricardo Lima Burigo ◽  
Robson Dias Scoz ◽  
Bruno Mazziotti de Oliveira Alves ◽  
Rubens Alexandre da Silva ◽  
Cesar Augusto Melo-Silva ◽  
...  

Background/AimDifferent authors have tried to correlate the peak isokinetic torque values with the incidence of soccer match injuries. However, due to the wide variety of assessment testing protocols, such an inference becomes difficult. This study aimed to verify the capacity of an isokinetic test to establish injury risk reference values for hamstring strain injuries.MethodsA retrospective cohort study based on isokinetic data and clinical records from the last 10 years was conducted in 582 Brazilian elite-professional soccer players, who were subjected to the same isokinetic test protocol, machine, and tester. A Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis for Complex Data Sampling was used to generate injury risk statistical indexes.ResultsMultivariate regression analysis of both legs provided important data to identify the cut-off values of Concentric Peak Torque (181.82 Newton/*metres), Concentric Work (236.23 watts) and Concentric Power (130.11 joules).ConclusionsThe injury risk indexes indicate that an increase of just one Newton unit in CPT (Concentric Peak Torque) and CJ (Concentric Power) above those cut-off values, can reduce the risk of future injuries by 2% and 2.7%, respectively.


2004 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 1693-1701 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. de Ruiter ◽  
R. D. Kooistra ◽  
M. I. Paalman ◽  
A. de Haan

We investigated the capacity for torque development and muscle activation at the onset of fast voluntary isometric knee extensions at 30, 60, and 90° knee angle. Experiments were performed in subjects ( n = 7) who had high levels (>90%) of activation at the plateau of maximal voluntary contractions. During maximal electrical nerve stimulation (8 pulses at 300 Hz), the maximal rate of torque development (MRTD) and torque time integral over the first 40 ms (TTI40) changed in proportion with torque at the different knee angles (highest values at 60°). At each knee angle, voluntary MRTD and stimulated MRTD were similar ( P < 0.05), but time to voluntary MRTD was significantly longer. Voluntary TTI40 was independent ( P > 0.05) of knee angle and on average (all subjects and angles) only 40% of stimulated TTI40. However, among subjects, the averaged (across knee angles) values ranged from 10.3 ± 3.1 to 83.3 ± 3.2% and were positively related ( r2 = 0.75, P < 0.05) to the knee-extensor surface EMG at the start of torque development. It was concluded that, although all subjects had high levels of voluntary activation at the plateau of maximal voluntary contraction, among subjects and independent of knee angle, the capacity for fast muscle activation varied substantially. Moreover, in all subjects, torque developed considerably faster during maximal electrical stimulation than during maximal voluntary effort. At different knee angles, stimulated MRTD and TTI40 changed in proportion with stimulated torque, but voluntary MRTD and TTI40 changed less than maximal voluntary torque.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 610-615
Author(s):  
Guillermo Charneco Salguero ◽  
Francisco García-Muro San José ◽  
Arturo Pérez Gosalvez ◽  
Jose Miguel Cárdenas Rebollo ◽  
Isabel Brígido Fernández ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: Isokinetics is a tool commonly used in professional soccer. There is ongoing debate among researchers as to the isokinetic reference values a player should have. Objectives: To determine the absolute peak torque (PT) and average work of professional soccer players in relation to their positions on the field, and to establish the reference values for these variables. Methods: Purposeful sampling was used to select 289 professional soccer players. The sample included 32 goalkeepers, 100 defenders, 98 midfielders, and 59 strikers. The participants were measured preseason. The players were asked to perform a 10-minute warm-up on an exercise bike, and then to perform 5 repetitions at low speed, 10 at medium speed, and 25 at high speed, with 30 to 40-s of rest between each set of repetitions. The contraction method was concentric-concentric in a dynamometer Isomed 2000. Results: The average age, weight, and height of the players was 21.9 years, 74.3 kilograms, and 1.8 meters, respectively. The goalkeepers presented higher PT at the 3 measured speeds, and the higher average work at 180°/s and 240°/s in relation to defenders and midfielders. The strikers presented higher average work at 240°/s in relation to midfielders, and higher PT in relation to the defenders and midfielders. Absolute values were shown and reference values were established. Conclusions: The goalkeepers and strikers were the players that showed the greatest differences in their favor in relation to the other positions. The peak torque values and average work were described in relation to the player's position on the field. This study resulted in the creation of a tool for health professionals working with professional soccer players, providing reference values for these players in relation to their position on the field that can be used as benchmarks, by health professionals, to optimize soccer players’ performance. Level of evidence II, Prospective comparative study.


2004 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 2121-2131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motoki Kouzaki ◽  
Minoru Shinohara ◽  
Kei Masani ◽  
Tetsuo Fukunaga

The study examined the hypothesis that altered synergistic activation of the knee extensors leads to cyclic modulation of the force fluctuations. To test this hypothesis, the force fluctuations were investigated during sustained knee extension at 2.5% of maximal voluntary contraction force for 60 min in 11 men. Surface electromyograms (EMG) were recorded from the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis (VM) muscles. The SD of force and average EMG (AEMG) of each muscle were calculated for 30-s periods during alternate muscle activity. Power spectrum of force was calculated for the low- (≤3 Hz), middle- (4–6 Hz), and high-frequency (8–12 Hz) components. Alternate muscle activity was observed between RF and the set of VL and VM muscles. The SD of force was not constant but variable due to the alternate muscle activity. The SD was significantly greater during high RF activity compared with high VL and VM activity ( P < 0.05), and the correlation coefficient between the SD and AEMG was significantly greater in RF [0.736 (SD 0.095), P < 0.05] compared with VL and VM. Large changes were found in the high-frequency component. During high RF activity, the correlation coefficient between the SD and high-frequency component [0.832 (SD 0.087)] was significantly ( P < 0.05) greater compared with other frequency components. It is suggested that modulations in knee extension force fluctuations are caused by the unique muscle activity in RF during the alternate muscle activity, which augments the high-frequency component of the fluctuations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (13) ◽  
pp. 929-935
Author(s):  
Denis César Leite Vieira ◽  
Marco Aurélio Araujo Dourado ◽  
Lucas Ugliara ◽  
Joao Luiz Quagliotti Durigan ◽  
Brad J. Schoenfeld ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study investigated the acute effects of seated and supine knee extension exercise on muscle swelling, torque, and work output. Twelve resistance-trained men performed two isokinetic concentric-only knee-extension training protocols at different hip positions in a counter-balanced order. They completed the knee extension exercise in the seated (hip angle at 85°) and supine (hip angle at 180°) positions. The torque and work output were assessed during each set. Moreover, muscle thickness of the middle and proximal vastus lateralis and rectus femoris were evaluated before and after each protocol and used as an indicator of muscle swelling. Middle rectus femoris and proximal vastus lateralis thickness increased significantly (p=0.01) with no difference between exercise variations. However, the middle vastus lateralis thickness increased (p=0.01) only after the seated knee extension exercise (~7%). Knee extensors’ peak torque and work output were approximately 8% higher (p=0.04) in the seated when compared to the supine hip position. There was a similar decrease in torque and work output throughout both protocols (p=0.98). In conclusion, seated knee extension exercises produced greater torque, work output, and muscle swelling in the vastus lateralis when compared to the supine knee extension exercise.


Sports ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassio V. Ruas ◽  
Ronei S. Pinto ◽  
Guy G. Haff ◽  
Camila D. Lima ◽  
Lee E. Brown

Resistance training is often recommended for combined increases in traditional and alternative hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratios in order to reduce knee strength imbalance and associated hamstrings and knee ligament injury risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentric and eccentric resistance training programs on traditional and alternative H:Q ratios. Forty male volunteers were assigned to one of 4 groups: concentric quadriceps and concentric hamstrings (CON/CON, n = 10), eccentric quadriceps and eccentric hamstrings (ECC/ECC, n = 10), concentric quadriceps and eccentric hamstrings (CON/ECC, n = 10), or no training (control (CNTRL), n = 10). Traditional conventional (CR) and functional (FR), alternative rate of torque development (RTD), muscle size (MS), and muscle activation (MA) H:Q ratios were measured before and after six weeks of unilateral nondominant knee extension–flexion resistance training performed on an isokinetic dynamometer. The ECC/ECC training significantly increased FR (pre = 0.75 ± 0.11; post = 0.85 ± 0.15), whereas the lack of training (CNTRL) decreased the RTD H:Q ratio (pre = 1.10 ± 0.67; post = 0.73 ± 0.33). There were no differences between groups for the other traditional and alternative ratios following resistance training protocols. These findings suggest eccentric exercise for quadriceps and hamstrings as the most beneficial training program for inducing increases in the traditional FR. However, different resistance training strategies may be needed to also elicit increases in the alternative RTD, MS, and MA H:Q ratios for fully restoring muscle balance and reducing potential hamstrings and knee ligament injury risk.


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