Summary
This study assessed maximum eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) torque of quadriceps (QUAD) and hamstring (HAM) muscle groups in healthy females (n=13) and males (n=27). Peak torques (PT) of bilateral muscle actions were recorded at constant angular velocities of 0.52, 1.57 and 2.61 rad·s−1. The QUADcon and HAMcon PT decreased (p<0.05) with increasing angular velocity. The QUADecc and HAMecc PT increased (p<0.05) in females, whereas QUADecc PT decreased (p<0.05) and HAMecc PT showed no change in males. In general, ECC PT was higher (p<0.05) than CON PT and QUAD PT was higher (p<0.05) than HAM PT, for any given angular velocity. Males displayed higher (p<0.05) PT than females but when PT were adjusted for body mass the sex differences in QUADcon and HAMcon were reduced (p<0.05), whereas the differences in QUADecc and HAMecc were abolished. The CON and ECC PT were, on average, 60% and 41% greater, respectively, in males than in females. The corresponding differences, when adjusted for body mass, were 23% and 8%. ECC:CON PT for QUAD were higher (p<0.05) in females than in males. CON and ECC HAM:QUAD PT ratio increased (p<0.05), as a function of velocity. This study suggests, that bilateral ECC PT is higher than CON PT and CON HAM:QUAD PT ratio is higher than ECC HAM:QUAD PT ratio. Moreover, females and males display different ECC torque-velocity patterns, whereas CON torquevelocity patterns are similar and females possess greater QUADecc PT relative to QUADcon PT than males.
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Colliander, E.B., Tesch, P.A. Bilateral eccentric and concentric torque of quadriceps and hamstring muscles in females and males. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 59, 227–232 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02386192
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02386192