Isokinetic strength of lower limbs and its differences depending on gender, muscle group and angular velocity in children
Abstract
The goal of this chapter was to identify muscle strength of knee extensors (KE) and flexors (KF) in non-sporting primary school population and compare results in terms of intersexual differences, muscle group and speed of muscle contraction.The monitoring was carried out with fifty-seven 13 years old children without regular sport activity (Boys: n = 31, height = 158.5+-8.0 cm, weight = 53.0+-12.6 kg, Girls: n=26, height = 158.6+-6.3 cm, weight = 50.7+-11.5 kg. Peak torque (PT) of knee flexors and extensors on the dominant leg was measured on the isokinetic dynamometer Cybex Humac Norm.Gender did not influence the PT of thigh muscles (p>0.05, ηp2 = 0.002).
KE produced significantly higher PT in comparison to KF (p<0.01, ηp2 = 0.644). At the lowest velocity, boys produced lower PT than girls (Boys: 2.13+-0.48 N.m.kg-1; Girls: 2.31+-0.42 N.m.kg-1).
On the other hand, at the highest velocity, boys achieved better performance than girls by 5.1% (Boys: 1.17+-0.29 N.m.kg-1; Girls: 1.11+-0.26 N.m.kg-1).he study did not show significant differences in the level of PT in KE and KF between boys and girls in 13 year old non-sporting population normalized to participant's body weight. Girls achieved higher values of PT at lower velocities while boys at higher velocities.
Speed of muscle contraction had a significant effect on the level of strength.