p-ISSN: 1300-0551
e-ISSN: 2587-1498

Mehmet Mesut Çelebi1, Cengiz Akarçeşme2, Burak Ekin Dalbayrak1

1Sports Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
2Sports Science Department, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

Keywords: Volleyball, isokinetic strength, H/Q ratio, postural balance

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) strength ratio, peak torque (PT), and postural balance (PB) in dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) legs in Turkish female volleyball players.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 63 Turkish Women’s Volleyball 1st league players with a mean age of 21.9±4.4 yr, mean height of 182.0±5.9 cm and mean body weight of 66.5±8.3 kg. Dynamic balance measurements were performed for 20 seconds and three repetitions for each leg. Overall stability index (OSI), anterior/posterior stability index (APSI) and medial/lateral stability index (MLSI) data were collected. Afterwards, hamstrings and quadriceps PT was measured with an isokinetic dynamomoter for concentric/concentric (con/con) contractions at both speeds of 60˚/s and 180˚/s. Wilcoxon Test was used for statistical analysis.
Results: Statistically significant difference was found for quadriceps muscles’ PT between dominant or non-dominant legs at 60˚/s. H/Q ratios were found lower in the dominant leg, with statistical significance at 60˚/s. No statistically significant difference was found for OSI, APSI and MLSI between dominant and non-dominant legs.
Discussion: H/Q ratios increase with higher angular velocity. Also, there are statistically significant differences in PT and H/Q ratio at 60˚/s between dominant and non-dominant legs. These findings may indicate that the non-injured leg can not be used as a reference for the injured leg in case of injury in female volleyball players, regardless of which leg is involved.

Cite this article as: Celebi MM, Akarcesme C, Dalbayrak BE. Evaluation of postural balance and hamstring/quadriceps peak torque ratios according to leg dominancy in Turkish female volleyball players. Turk J Sports Med. 2018;53(3):123-30.