The Association between Lower Extremities Muscle Strength and Hop Performance in Healthy Participants | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

The present research analyses the correlation between single horizontal (SHH) and crossover (COH) hops for distance performances, alongside measuring muscle strength. The ankle plantar flexors (APA), knee flexors (KF), extensors (KE), and hip extensors (HE) were tested isokinetically using the variances of peak torque (peak TQ) and peak torque to body weight (peak TQ to BW) as well as through isometric action. Overall, twenty recreational athletes (male, aged 32.4±4.5 height 171.1±6.0 cm mass 78.4±16.6 kg) were analysed, who performed 3 trails of SHH and COH with their dominant leg 3 trails of isometric testing for all muscle groups, while utilising hand-held dynamometry (HHD) and by using a Biodex system (testing speed 60°sec) with 3 trials of isokinetic muscle tests through 5 maximal effort trials. Between the dominant and non-dominant leg during the hop performance or muscle strength tests for the first-tenth participants no differences were presented. In isometric muscle strength tests, the strongest relationships were between HE, KE and KF, with SHH (r ≥ 0.500, P ≤ 0.029) and between HE with COH (r=0.597, P ≤ 0.007). Whilst in isokinetic tests, the strongest correlation was between peak TQ to BW of HE, KF and APF with SHH (r ≥ 0.665, P ≤ 0.001) and between peaks TQ of HE with COH for distance (r ≥ 0.613, P ≤ 0.004). Therefore, a more beneficial indicator of hop performance measurements may be demonstrated through muscle strength measurements that incorporate body weight. Furthermore, the advanced correlation between hop tests and peak force may relate to the form of muscular contraction, as a substantial correlation was shown from concentric isokinetic muscular contraction from HE, KE and KF.