Issn Print: 0195-9131

Publication Date: 2001/05/01


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ISOKINETIC STRENGTH PROFILE OF SOCCER PLAYERS CONCERNING THEIR GAME POSITIONAL ROLES

J Magalhães; J Oliveria; A Ascensão; J MC Soares; J Cabri

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Author Information: Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Porto, Portugal

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Excerpt

Leg muscle strength is considered to be an important factor of performance in soccer, supporting specific motor skills and actions. Therefore, like in other capacities, such as endurance, specific tasks might induce different strength development patterns. Additionally, several authors argue that strength weaknesses are related to soft tissue injury risk. For these reasons, strength assessment and control is of critical value for monitoring the effects of training programs and injury risk factors. Isokinetic evaluation provides relevant information through indicators such as peak torque, bilateral strength differences in leg extensor (Ext) and flexor (Flex) muscles and antagonist/agonist strength ratios in dominant (D) and non dominant (ND) leg. The main purpose of the present study was to describe and to compare isokinetic strength profiles of top level soccer players at different playing positions.
Using an isokinetic dynamometry (Biodex - System 2), 47 adult elite soccer players (age: 25.1 ± 3.6 yrs; weight: 75.2 ± 7.3 kg; height: 178.8 ± 4.0 cm) were evaluated. Maximal gravity corrected concentric peak torque of knee extensor and flexor muscles were measured during a 3-repetition protocol at 90 degrees/sec. The statstical analysis including mean, standard deviation and factorial Anova, were carried out at a level of significance of p < 0.05.
Results concerning the bilateral strength differences (Ext: 8.2% ± 4.9; Flex: 7.9% ± 4.7) and the concentric hamstring/quadriceps strength ratios (D: 54.9% ± 6.6; ND: 55.9% ± 6.4) showed that the Portuguese elite soccer players studied are functionally well balanced. The strength profiles obtained were not significantly influenced by the habitual position of the soccer player. Therefore, our results suggest that specific requirements of the different positional roles are not reflected in the isokinetic strength profiles.
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