Nesrin BOLUKBASI, Metin KARATAS, Sabire AKIN, Mehmet BEYAZOVA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of angle-specific torques and angle-specific torque ratios of knee muscles and to see whether these parameters had any superiority over routine peak torque and peak torque ratio estimations. Eighty-three young, healthy and sedentary subjects (40 females and 43 males) volunteered in the study. Hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength was investigated isokinetically. The tests were performed in three angular velocities of 60, 180 and 300 deg/sec. Peak torques and angle-specific torques at 30° and 60° and peak torque ratios and angle-specific torque ratios at the same degrees revealed a strong correlation at all velocities (r = 0.50-090, p < 0.05). Angle of peak torque ranged between 36.6°-45.7° for flexion and 37.5°-49.1° for extension. Our results suggest that peak torque and peak torque ratio provide reliable data for muscle strength evaluation and angle-specific torque ratio estimation is unnecessary.