Quadriceps and Hamstrings Strength Reference Values for Athletes With and Without Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Who Play Popular Pivoting Sports, Including Soccer, Basketball, and Handball: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Objective: To synthesize and present reference values for quadriceps and hamstrings strength tests in healthy athletes who play pivoting sports and in athletes with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) who play pivoting sports.

Design: Scoping review.

Literature search: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science up to January 26, 2021.

Study selection criteria: We included reference values in 2 different categories: (1) quadriceps and hamstrings strength test outcomes in healthy pivoting-sport athletes, and (2) quadriceps and hamstrings strength test outcomes in pivoting-sport athletes with ACLR at a specific time point during rehabilitation.

Data synthesis: We performed a qualitative synthesis for reference values from isokinetic (at 60°/s, 180°/s, and 300°/s) and isometric quadriceps and hamstrings strength tests. We summarized the data for type of sport, sex, sport participation level, and age group.

Results: Of the 42 included studies, 26 reported reference values from healthy soccer players, 4 from healthy basketball players, 4 from healthy handball players, and 11 from other healthy pivoting-sport athletes. The limb symmetry index dominant/nondominant limb (LSI-D/ND) ranged from 98% to 114% for healthy athletes. Six studies reported reference values in pivoting-sport athletes with ACLR at a specific time point during rehabilitation. After 7 months, strength values for athletes with ACLR were comparable to those of healthy pivoting-sport athletes.

Conclusion: This scoping review summarizes quadriceps and hamstrings strength reference values for athletes who play the most common pivoting sports, including soccer, basketball, and handball. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2022;52(3):142-155. Epub 31 Dec 2021. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.10693.

Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; muscle strength; reference values.