THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ISOKINETIC KNEE STRENGTH AND ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY RISK IN SOCCER PLAYERS
Seçkin ŞENIŞIK1, Cengizhan ÖZGÜRBÜZ2, Metin ERGÜN2
1İzmir Kâtip Çelebi Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Yeşilyurt, İzmir
2Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Spor Hekimliği Anabilim Dalı, Bornova, İzmir
Keywords: Isokinetic test, knee extensor and flexor muscle strength, anterior cruciate ligament injury, soccer
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of isokinetic strength of knee extensor and flexor muscle groups on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk. A total of 64 elite soccer players were enrolled in this study. Isokinetic strength of knee extensor and flexor muscle groups of the subjects was measured at 60 and 300o/sec by means of a Cybex 6000 Norm dynamometer. Isokinetic tests of the subjects were performed after a warm-up on a treadmill. Individual player exposure and injuries were prospectively recorded during the two and a half year period of the participants. "T test" and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analyses. A total of 11 non-contact ACL injuries (incidence: 0.2/1000 playing hours) had been registered during the study period. Injured players had higher eccentric quadriceps strength at 60°/sec than uninjured players (p=0.003). There were no statistical differences between the two groups for other strength measurements (p>0.05). It is possible to conclude that eccentric quadriceps strength appears to be related to increased ACL injury risk in this study.
