Evaluation of Postural Balance and Hamstring/Quadriceps Peak Torque Ratios According to Leg Dominancy in Turkish Female Volleyball Players
Mehmet Mesut Çelebi1
, Cengiz Akarçeşme2, Burak Ekin Dalbayrak1
1Sports Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
2Sports Science Department, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Keywords: Volleyball, isokinetic strength, H/Q ratio, postural balance
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study is to determine hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) strength ratio, peak torque (PT), and postural balance (PB) in dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) legs in Turkish female volleyball players.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 63 Turkish Women’s Volleyball 1st league players with a mean age of 21.9±4.4 yr, mean height of 182.0±5.9 cm and mean body weight of 66.5±8.3 kg. Dynamic balance measurements were performed for 20 seconds and three repetitions for each leg. Overall stability index (OSI), anterior/posterior stability index (APSI) and medial/lateral stability index (MLSI) data were collected. Afterwards, hamstrings and quadriceps PT was measured with an isokinetic dynamomoter for concentric/concentric (con/con) contractions at both speeds of 60˚/s and 180˚/s. Wilcoxon Test was used for statistical analysis.
Results: Statistically significant difference was found for quadriceps muscles’ PT between dominant or non-dominant legs at 60˚/s. H/Q ratios were found lower in the dominant leg, with statistical significance at 60˚/s. No statistically significant difference was found for OSI, APSI and MLSI between dominant and non-dominant legs.
Discussion: H/Q ratios increase with higher angular velocity. Also, there are statistically significant differences in PT and H/Q ratio at 60˚/s between dominant and non-dominant legs. These findings may indicate that the non-injured leg can not be used as a reference for the injured leg in case of injury in female volleyball players, regardless of which leg is involved.
Cite this article as: Celebi MM, Akarcesme C, Dalbayrak BE. Evaluation of postural balance and hamstring/quadriceps peak torque ratios according to leg dominancy in Turkish female volleyball players. Turk J Sports Med. 2018;53(3):123-30.
