Isokinetic Strength and Anaerobic Power of Elite, Subelite and Amateur French Soccer Players

Abstract

Information about the influence of different practice levels on physical characteristics of a large number of soccer players is lacking. Therefore we assessed muscular strength and anaerobic power of elite, subelite and amateur soccer players to clarify what parameters distinguish the top players from the less successful. We tested 95 soccer players from the French first division (elite), second division (subelite), and amateurs and determined the isokinetic strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles at angular velocities from -120 degrees x s(-1) to 300 degrees x s(-1). Vertical jump, 10 m sprint, 30 m sprint and maximum ball speed during shooting were also measured. The elite players had higher knee flexor torque than the amateurs at all angular velocities (p < 0.05), except at 300 degrees x s(-1). The hamstring/quadriceps ratios proposed with two different methods were significantly lower in the amateur group than in the elite group (p < 0.05), except at 300 degrees x s(-1). Maximum ball speed during shooting and speed over 30 m sprint were not different between elite, subelite, and amateur players while speed over a 10 m sprint was significantly slower in amateur players and faster in the elite group (p < 0.05). Although performance in soccer is not determined only by measurable variables, professional players differ from amateurs in terms of knee flexor muscle strength and short-distance sprinting speed. Based on these findings we conclude that hamstring strength is extremely important in soccer players for joint stabilization during various tasks, notably in eccentric action. Further, short-sprinting performance may mirror actual game situations at high level and could be an important determinant of match-winning actions.

Peak Isokinetic Torques of Football Players Participating in Different Levels in Cyprus and Lower Limb Asymmetries

“…When football players of varying divisions were compared isokinetically, elite players exhibited higher knee flexor torque compared to sub-elite and amateur football players. This was found to be the case at all isokinetic speeds except at 300 °/sec, suggesting that hamstring strength plays an important role in joint balance and stabilization [13]. Research demonstrated that the probability of sustaining a hamstring injury is high if the concentric H/Q ratio, tested isokinetically at 60 °/sec, is less than 0.8 [12].…”

Six weeks of knee extensor isometric training improves soccer related skills in female soccer players

“…10 Knee extension may also be important for jumping which is regularly used as a measure of anaerobic power in soccer players. 3 However, it is unclear whether knee extensor strength affects other soccer related skills such as COD performance with and without a ball.…”

“…Strength and anaerobic power, particularly of the lower limbs, likely affects the explosive efforts of jumping, kicking and sprinting, which it has been argued may be key determinants of successful soccer performance. 3 As such, it may be important to consider training of these characteristics. Sprinting and high intensity efforts only represent 10-15% of covered running distance; however, they can be the most critical and decisive movements affecting the outcome of a game.…”

CORR Insights®: Novel Augmentation Technique for Patellar Tendon Repair Improves Strength and Decreases Gap Formation: A Cadaveric Study

“…However, the force generated by a quadriceps contraction is many times what even the modified technique would be able to withstand [3,4,9,12]. Consequently, patients will still need to be immobilized.…”