The influence of angle-specific torque of the knee flexors and extensors on the angle-specific dynamic control ratio in professional female soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether dynamic torque ratios (DCR) from isokinetic strength assessments of eccentric knee flexors (eccKF) and concentric knee extensors (conKE) display differences when stratified into specific angle-specific DCR (DCRAST) groups. Fifty-two professional female soccer players (age 21.30 ± 4.44 years; height 166.56 ± 5.17 cm; mass 61.55 ± 5.73 kg) from the English Women's Super League completed strength assessments of both lower limbs on an isokinetic dynamometer at 60°âˆ™s-1. Angle-specific torque (AST) were used to calculate DCRAST to create sub-groups using clustering algorithms. The results identified for the dominant side that the Medium DCRAST group elicited significantly higher conKE AST when compared to Low and High DCRAST groups at increased knee extension (P ≤ 0.05). For the non-dominant side, the High DCRAST group had significantly higher and lower eccKF and conKE AST compared to the Low DCRAST group at increased knee extension (P ≤ 0.05). This study highlights that the inclusion of AST data may subsequently help practitioners to prescribe exercise that promotes strength increases at targeted joint angles. In turn, these approaches can be used to help reduce injury risk, identify rehabilitation responses and help inform return to play.

Isokinetic strength differences between elite senior and youth female soccer players identifies training requirements.

OBJECTIVES: To compare traditional and angle-specific isokinetic strength of eccentric knee flexors and concentric knee extensors in female senior professional and youth soccer players. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design. SETTING: University's Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 34 players (17 seniors [age 25.31 ±â€¯4.51 years; height 167.89 ±â€¯7.04 cm; mass 63.12 ±â€¯7.79 kg] and 17 youths [16.91 ±â€¯1.16 years; height 165.92 ±â€¯4.42 cm; mass 60.07 ±â€¯4.48 kg]) from the Women's Super League 1 completed strength assessments at 180, 270 and 60°âˆ™s-1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak torque (PT), dynamic control ratio (DCR), angle of peak torque (APT), functional range (FR), angle-specific torque (AST) and angle-specific DCR (DCRAST) were compared between age groups. RESULTS: The PT (P = 0.016) AST (P = 0.041) were significantly higher in seniors compared to youths; however APT (P = 0.141), DCR (P = 0.524) FR (P = 0.821) and DCRAST (P = 0.053) were not significant between playing age. CONCLUSION: The use of absolute and angle-specific strength measures were able to distinguish between female playing ages, whereas DCR and DCRAST was unable to identify differences. The PT and AST metrics may be the most useful metrics to help identify and inform training needs, particularly in youths.