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. 2020 Feb 1;13(4):157-166.
doi: 10.70252/PFUL6689. eCollection 2020.

A Comparison of Quadriceps-to-Hamstrings Ratios During Isokinetic Testing, Cutting, and Drop Landings in Male Soccer Players

Shane R O'Donnell  1 , Dana N Eitan  1 , Jenevieve L Roper  1
Affiliations

A Comparison of Quadriceps-to-Hamstrings Ratios During Isokinetic Testing, Cutting, and Drop Landings in Male Soccer Players

Shane R O'Donnell et al. Int J Exerc Sci. .

Abstract

Collegiate soccer is not an unusual place to suffer a knee injury. The sport has many dynamic movements, such as cutting, jumping and shooting. Many professionals use quadriceps-to-hamstring (Q/H) ratios as a tool to determine when an injured player can to return to game play or use the ratio to investigate how predisposed a certain player is to sustaining a knee injury. However, many of these ratios are taken in isokinetic testing in a controlled environment and to our knowledge it is unknown if these ratios are similar to those measured during dynamic activity. Therefore, this study investigated if there was a relationship between Q/H ratios measured during isokinetic testing and drop landings and cutting. Fifteen Division 2 collegiate male soccer players (age: 19.79 ± 1.25 years; height: 176.74 ± 6.22 cm; weight: 77.24 ± 11.01 kg). Wearing Athlos© compression shorts participants performed isokinetic testing, drop landings and cutting drills while muscle activity was measured. A significant difference was found between the bilateral Q/H ratios during the drop landings (p = 0.04; η = 0.49). There were no significant bilateral differences measured during the cutting drills in either direction and isokinetic testing (p > 0.05). Additionally, there was so significant relationship in Q/H ratios between isokinetic testing and the dynamic movements (p > 0.05). This suggests that clinicians should use Q/H ratios during dynamic movements rather than isokinetic testing in a controlled environment to better assess player risk disposition and return-to-play criteria.

Keywords: Functional movement; knee; lower extremity; strength ratios.

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Figures

Figure 1A
Figure 1A
Bilateral Q/H ratios during drop landings.
Figure 1B
Figure 1B
Bilateral Q/H ratios during cutting to the left.
Figure 1C
Figure 1C
Bilateral Q/H ratios during cutting to the right.
Figure 1D
Figure 1D
Bilateral Q/H ratios during isokinetic testing.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation plots of Q/H ratios during: (A) cutting to the left and the right; (B) cutting to the left and drop landings; and (C) cutting to the right and drop landings. All correlations were significant at 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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