THE MAXIMAL MUSCLE TORQUES DISTRIBUTION AMONG MUSCLE GROUPS IN ELITE ATHLETES IN COMBAT SPORTS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to point out typical asymmetries in strength distribution among main muscle groups in top athletes representing various kinds of combat sports. The differences in strength between tested groups were also considered and discussed. METHODS: Three groups of high-level sportsmen (11 fencers, 16 judokas and 16 boxers) took part in the experiment. Maximal muscle torques were measured in isometric conditions for flexion and extension in the elbow, shoulder, knee and hip joints for the left and right extremity. Special torquemeter devices (chair and bench) were utilized for measurement. The 2-way MACNOVA for repeated measures (8 variables) was employed to test differences in average strength between sports and sides. The logarithm of the body mass was included as a covariate. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to examine the distributions of the tested variables. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in average strength for both analyzed factors: sports (Rao's R=7.34,), sides (Rao's R=10.66, ) and their interaction (Rao's R=1.86, ). The asymmetrical strength distribution is thought to be the result of specific training methods applied in each tested sport discipline. The tested groups differed in strength in elbow, knee and hip for both flexion and extension. No matter how the body mass influence was controlled, the strength in the group of boxers was found lower, especially for knee and hip extensions. Fig.1. Mean values of maximal muscle torques for elbow (E), arm (A), knee (K), and hip (H) flexion (F) and extension (E) estimated for the athletes representing fencing, judo and boxing.