Relationship Between Isokinetic Lower-Limb Joint Strength, Isometric Time Force Characteristics, and Leg-Spring Stiffness in Recreational Runners

Chen, Shiqin; Wang, Dan; Zhang, Qin; Shi, Yue; Ding, Huaiyu; Li, Fei

doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.797682

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(97 reference statements)

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“…The maximum torque of the hamstrings and quadriceps was measured by an isokinetic dynamometer IsoMed 2000 (Germany) at 60 °/s,180 °/s and 240 °/S (Figure 1), which showed high reliability of the knee test (ICC = 0.90-0.96) in a prior study (Chen et al, 2021). Before each test, athletes performed a 15-20 min warm-up including jogging and stretching quadriceps, hamstrings, adductors, iliopsoas, and gluteus.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Lower extremity isokinetic strength characteristics of amateur boxers

Zhou

Chen

et al. 2022

Front. Physiol.

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Aim: Sufficient strength and dynamic stability of the lower limbs are essential for improving punching force and preventing injury in amateur boxers. However, there are still no comprehensive reports on the isokinetic knee strength of boxers with different performance levels. The current study aimed to profile the isokinetic muscle strength of flexion and extension of the knee in boxers, as well as bilateral, unilateral, and functional ratios, and investigate the variation in these muscle strength characteristics associated with different performance levels.Methods: Boxers were divided in two performance groups, elite (five males and four females) and non-elite groups (five males and four females). Muscle strength of the knee was determined via an IsoMed2000 device. Parameters examined included peak torque of the hamstring (H) and quadriceps (Q) during concentric (con) and eccentric (ecc) contractions at low (60°/S), medium (180°/S), and high (240°/S) speed and bilateral ratios (BLs), unilateral ratios (ULs), and functional ratios of dominant (D) and non-dominant limbs.Results: In all angular velocities, the peak torque of H and Q was stronger in the elite group than in the non-elite group. ULs were lower in the elite group than in the non-elite group in Hcon/Qcon at 180D (p < 0.01) and 180ND (p < 0.05) and in Hecc/Qecc at 60D, 180D (p < 0.05) and 240D (p < 0.01). The elite group had higher BLs than the non-elite group in Hcon at 60°/S (p < 0.05) and Qcon at 180°/S (p < 0.05). The non-elite group had a higher functional ratio than elite boxers in Hecc/Qcon at 180D and 240D (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Elite boxers had stronger knee strength in con and ecc contractions. All boxers had normal Hecc/Qecc and Hcon/Qecc. Hcon/Qcon and Hecc/Qcon were abnormal at lower angular velocity. Elite boxers had higher BLs and lower ULs, indicating that they are at a higher risk of injury.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Lower extremity isokinetic strength characteristics of amateur boxers

Zhou

Chen

et al. 2022

Front. Physiol.

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“…It also implies that when transitioning from walking to running, the increased whole-limb muscle co-activation during the foot contact phase is intended to absorb ground impact and generate propulsive forces in a single motor act, most likely within a unique motor strategy. As a result, the CI could be a useful index for reflecting and assessing the efficiency of the “leg-spring” stiffness mechanism, which is correlated with more economical running [ 80 , 81 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Lower Limb Muscle Co-Activation Map during Human Locomotion: From Slow Walking to Running

Fiori,

Castiglia,

Chini

et al. 2024

Bioengineering

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The central nervous system (CNS) controls movements and regulates joint stiffness with muscle co-activation, but until now, few studies have examined muscle pairs during running. This study aims to investigate differences in lower limb muscle coactivation during gait at different speeds, from walking to running. Nineteen healthy runners walked and ran at speeds ranging from 0.8 km/h to 9.3 km/h. Twelve lower limb muscles’ co-activation was calculated using the time-varying multi-muscle co-activation function (TMCf) with global, flexor–extension, and rostro–caudal approaches. Spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters were also measured. We found that TMCf, spatiotemporal, and kinematic parameters were significantly affected by gait speed for all approaches. Significant differences were observed in the main parameters of each co-activation approach and in the spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters at the transition between walking and running. In particular, significant differences were observed in the global co-activation (CIglob, main effect F(1,17) = 641.04, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001), the stride length (main effect F(1,17) = 253.03, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001), the stride frequency (main effect F(1,17) = 714.22, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001) and the Center of Mass displacement in the vertical (CoMy, main effect F(1,17) = 426.2, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001) and medial–lateral (CoMz, main effect F(1,17) = 120.29 p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001) directions. Regarding the correlation analysis, the CoMy was positively correlated with a higher CIglob (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHMglob, r = −0.83, p < 0.001), whereas the CoMz was positively correlated with the global Center of Activity (CoAglob, r = 0.97, p < 0.001). Positive and negative strong correlations were found between global co-activation parameters and center of mass displacements, as well as some spatiotemporal parameters, regardless of gait speed. Our findings suggest that walking and running have different co-activation patterns and kinematic characteristics, with the whole-limb stiffness exerted more synchronously and stably during running. The co-activation indexes and kinematic parameters could be the result of global co-activation, which is a sensory-control integration process used by the CNS to deal with more demanding and potentially unstable tasks like running.

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Isometric Knee Extension and Hip Abduction Strength Are Negatively Correlated With Age in Female Recreational Runners

Hamilton,

Bennett,

Mariano

et al. 2024

Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal

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Running mitigates age-related changes in cardiovascular fitness, but running alone does not preserve muscle strength in aging adults. In addition to age-related declines in muscle strength, menopause negatively affects muscle strength in females. However, the effects of aging on muscle strength in female runners has not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between age and lower-extremity muscle strength in healthy female recreational runners. Peak isometric and isokinetic (concentric and eccentric) strength of the hip abductors, hip extensors, knee extensors, and plantar flexors was tested in 54 participants (ages 27–65 years) using an isokinetic dynamometer. Simple correlation was used to determine the relationship between age and muscle strength. There was a significant negative correlation between age and isometric hip abduction strength (R = −.32, p = .017) and age and isometric knee extension strength (R = −.28, p = .041). There were no significant correlations between age and any other measures of isometric or isokinetic strength. Interventions to improve hip abduction and knee extension strength may be beneficial in aging female runners. Running may help mitigate some age-related declines in concentric muscle strength in female runners. Several strength measures were weakly to moderately correlated with running pace. Efforts to maintain lower-extremity muscle strength into older age may mitigate age-related declines in running pace.

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Relationship Between Isokinetic Lower-Limb Joint Strength, Isometric Time Force Characteristics, and Leg-Spring Stiffness in Recreational Runners

Cited by 5 publications

References 68 publications

Lower extremity isokinetic strength characteristics of amateur boxers

Lower extremity isokinetic strength characteristics of amateur boxers

The Lower Limb Muscle Co-Activation Map during Human Locomotion: From Slow Walking to Running

Isometric Knee Extension and Hip Abduction Strength Are Negatively Correlated With Age in Female Recreational Runners

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