Comparison of the Decrease in Strength between Hamstrings and Quadriceps during Isokinetic Fatigue Testing in Semiprofessional Soccer Players

Abstract

An imbalance in the agonist/antagonist ratio has been identified as a pathologic factor. Using an isokinetic dynamometer, several studies have investigated the loss of quadriceps strength due to fatigue, but few have explored this phenomenon in the hamstrings. This study assessed the decline in strength of the hamstring and quadriceps muscles with fatigue. The goal was to determine whether a divergence in the decline in strength occurs that would affect the hamstring to quadriceps ratio of endurance. Twenty-seven professional soccer players were selected for endurance testing to evaluate fatigue on an isokinetic dynamometer. The decline in hamstring strength was significantly greater than that of the quadriceps after 15 repetitions for the dominant leg and after 40 repetitions for the nondominant leg. This study also revealed a decline in the endurance ratio compared with the maximal strength ratio in the dominant leg after 30 repetitions. In fatigue states, the decline in hamstring strength diverges from that of the quadriceps in both legs. This difference in resistance to fatigue provokes an imbalance that may affect the stabilizing function of the thigh muscles. These results can be considered as indicators of an increased risk of injury during exhausting effort.

Effect of Kinesiotaping Intervention on Knee Muscle Strength and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Pain Following Eccentric Fatigue Training

“…The reason of higher level of DOMS in hamstrings in our study might be the fact that hamstring muscles contain more Type 2 muscle fibers in comparison to M. Quadriceps femoris; therefore, a higher level of muscle fiber damage following fatigue training results with higher inflammatory reactions (9,11,30). Additionally, thigh Kinesiotaping following eccentric fatigue training is effective on pain alleviation and muscle force enhancement due to delayed-onset muscle soreness on day 2.…”

“…According to Sangnier et al, the hamstring muscle group contains more Type 2 muscle fiber than M. Quadriceps femoris. Type 2 muscle fibers are capable of rapid contraction and rapid fatigue, and are more sensitive towards fatigue (7,30). Therefore, hamstring muscle group may be prone to DOMS accompanying with strength loss following the eccentric fatigue protocol.…”

Avaliação isocinética da fadiga em jogadores de futebol profissional

“…Estudos mostram que a constituição das fibras nesses dois grupos musculares é diferente, os ísquiotibiais apresentam maior quantidade de fibras rápidas em comparação ao quadríceps e essas fibras são mais fatigáveis. Dessa forma, os ísquiotibiais parecem perder mais força do que o quadríceps ao longo de vários movimentos consecutivos intermitentes (SANGNIER; TOURNY-CHOLLET, 2007;GREIG, 2008;TOURNY-CHOLLET, 2008).…”

“…A fadiga muscular é uma falha na manutenção de força ou potência requerida ou esperada (SANGNIER; TOURNY-CHOLLET, 2007). Ela vai se pronunciando no decorrer do jogo de futebol principalmente no quadríceps femoral e ísquiotibiais, pois esses são os grupos musculares mais utilizados na realização das ações do futebol.…”

“…Ainda não existe um consenso sobre a melhor forma de avaliar a fadiga da musculatura anterior e posterior da coxa em jogadores de futebol. Alguns autores realizam testes isocinéticos de flexão e extensão de joelho antes e após protocolos de exercícios exaustivos específicos de futebol, em laboratório (MAGALHÃES et al, 2001;RAHNAMA et al, 2003;GREIG, 2008;SMALL et al, 2008), e outros somente realizam os testes isocinéticos com grande número de repetições e velocidade angular média ou elevada (KAWABATA et al, 2000;GOULARTet al, 2007;TOURNY-CHOLLET, 2007;TOURNY-CHOLLET, 2008;WEBER et al, 2010). Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi revisar os resultados a respeito da relação entre a fadiga com o desempenho e a incidência de lesões no futebol, bem como verificar, nos estudos citados, os protocolos de teste de fadiga nesse esporte.…”