ISOKINETIC HAMSTRING QUADRICEPS STRENGTH RATIO - INFLUENCE FROM JOINT ANGULAR VELOCITY, GRAVITY CORRECTION AND CONTRACTION MODE

This study investigated isokinetic peak- and angle-specific hamstring/quadriceps strength ratios (conventional H/Q ratio) obtained during concentric and eccentric muscle contraction and examined the influence of joint angular velocity and the effect of gravity correction on these ratios. Also, a 'functional' H/Q ratio was defined by calculating eccentric hamstring strength relative to concentric quadriceps strength (H-ecc/Q(con), representative for knee extension) and calculating concentric hamstring strength relative to eccentric quadriceps strength (H-con/Q(ecc), representative for knee flexion). The H/Q ratio was calculated based on isokinetic peak moment and 50 degrees-moment (0 degrees = full extension) obtained at joint angular velocities 30, 120 and 240 degrees s(-1). Gravity corrected conventional H/Q ratio remained constant across speeds and contraction mode, ranging from 0.47 to 0.54 and from 0.49 to 0.56 based on peak and 50 degrees moment, respectively. In contrast, non-corrected H/Q ratio increased during concentric contraction from 0.58 at 30 degrees s(-1) to 0.74 at 240 degrees s(-1) (P < 0.01). For knee extension at 240 degrees s(-1) an H-ecc/Q(con) of 1.05 (peak) and 0.89 (50 degrees) was observed while for flexion at 240 degrees s(-1) an H-con/Q(ecc) of 0.27 (peak) and 0.28 (50 degrees) was observed. In conclusion, gravity correction had high influence on the change in H/Q ratio with variation in extension velocity. ii potential 1:1 hamstring/quadriceps strength relationship was demonstrated for fast knee extension, indicating a significant functional capacity of the hamstring muscles for providing muscular stability at the knee joint in such situations.