The Effects of Individualized Resistance Strength Programs on Knee Muscular Imbalances in Junior Elite Soccer Players.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a resistance training program on the muscular strength of soccer players' knees that initially presented unilateral and bilateral differences. For this study, a team of 24 male well-trained junior soccer players was divided into two strength program training groups: a Resistance Training Control Group (RTCG) composed of 10 players that did not have muscular imbalances and a Resistance Training Experimental Group (RTEG) composed of 14 players that had muscular imbalances. All players followed a resistance training program for six weeks, two times per week, during the transition period. The program of individualized strength training consisted of two parts. The first part, which was identical in terms of the choice of training loads, was intended for both training groups and contained two series of exercises including upper and lower body exercises. The second part of the program was intended only for RTEG and consisted of two additional series for the groups of muscles that had identified unilateral and bilateral differences. The applied program showed various directions in the isokinetic profile of changes. In the case of RTCG, the adaptations related mainly to the quadriceps muscle (the peak torque (PT) change for the dominant leg was statistically significant (p < 0.05)). There were statistically significant changes in RTEG (p < 0.05) related to PT for the hamstrings in both legs, which in turn resulted in an increase in the conventional hamstring/quadriceps ratio (H/Q). It is interesting that the statistically significant (p < 0.05) changes were noted only for the dominant leg. No statistically significant changes in bilateral differences (BD) were noted in either group. These results indicate that individualized resistance training programs could provide additional benefits to traditional strength training protocols to improve muscular imbalances in post-adolescent soccer players.

[Postural control strategy in patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency]. / Sposoby kontroli postawy u chorych z niestabilnoscia przednia stawu kolanowego.

UNLABELLED: Dysfunction of the knee joint caused by injury of the anterior cruciate ligament is associated not only with mechanical joint destabilization but also damage of receptors in the ligament responsible for joint proprioception. Sensory disorders associated with damage of receptors in the ligaments may produce abnormalities in the posture control. The study aimed at evaluating postural control strategy in patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament deficiency and determining a relationship between clinical assessment, subjective evaluation of knee joint functioning, and type of postural control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Postural control with dynamic and static Riva test in one-legged position was assessed in 46 patients (6 women and 40 men), aged between 15 and 52 years (mean 32 years), in whom damage of the anterior cruciate ligament was diagnosed clinically and/or radiologically. Diagnosis was confirmed arthroscopically in all cases. Clinical evaluation was made with the aid of two subjective scales of knee ailments: Lysholm knee scale and subjective knee evaluation form IKDC 2000. Arthrometer Rolimeter by Aircast was used to measure the difference between lower limbs in anterior knee laxity during "anterior drawer" test and Lachman's test. The way of visual proprioceptive control was assessed with both dynamic (DRT) and static (SRT) Riva tests in monopodalic stance. Tests were performed with the DELOS Postural Proprioceptive System (DELOS s.r.l., Corso Lecce, Torino, Italy) in the biomechanical evaluation laboratory at Rehasport Clinic in Poznan. CONCLUSIONS: Strategy of the postural control in both dynamic and static Riva test does not allow differentiating ACL deficient leg from the mechanically stable leg. The obtained results of postural control in dynamic and static Riva test confirm significant value of knee joint mechanical stability for preservation its functional stability. Knee joint extension (hyperextension) may be one of mechanisms maintaining functional knee joint stability.