A MEASUREMENTAL ANALYSIS OF ATHLETES' EXTENSOR AND FLEXOR TORQUE IN HIP, KNEE, AND ANKLE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The three joints of hip, knee, and ankle play important roles in body movements. By measuring with isokinetic dynomometers peak extensor and flexor torques at the hip, knee, and ankle can be evaluated. RESULTS It was discovered that when rotational speed got to 120 deg/sec, the maximum torque of extensor in these three joints was significantly Larger that that of the flexor in ordinary people. The ratio is 50%, and in the ankle joint, the maximum torque of extensor was far larger than that of the flexor. These results showed that the maximum torques of muscles in both lower limbs were highly related. The maximum torque ratio of extensors in these three joints were arranged in an order that the knee/ankle ratio was the largest, then the ankle/knee, and the ankle hip was the smallest. It was also discovered that the maximum extensor and flexor torques at similar points of joint flexion or extension.