Resumen de Knee Flexor:Extensor Isokinetic Ratios in Young Male Gymnasts and Swimmers
Spiros Kellis, Theophanis A. Siatras, Dimitra N. Mameletzi
The purpose of the study was to determine young male gymnasts' and swimmers' knee flexor:extensor (F:E) ratios during isokinetic testing at different velocities. Nine gymnasts (10.3 ± 0.5 years) and 14 swimmers (10.5 ± 0.5 years) participated. Concentric isokinetic peak torque was measured by a CybexÒ Norm dynamometer at different angular velocities (60,120, and 180°/s) during unilateral knee extensions and flexions after gravity correction. Significant differences were found only in gymnasts' knee F:E peak-torque ratios between the angular velocities of 60 and 120°/s (p < .01), as well as 60 and 180°/s (p < .01), whereas swimmers' ratios were unchanged. Gymnasts presented significantly higher F:E ratios than swimmers did at the angular velocities of 120°/s (p < .01) and 180°/s (p < .001). The reciprocal ratios provided some indication that the training context of young athletes can influence the balance between agonistic and antagonistic activity of the lower limbs' major muscle groups
