Does ipsilateral and bilateral knee strength status predict lower extremity injuries of elite judokas; a prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT

The association of pre-participation knee muscle strength status with lower limb injury occurrence was investigated. Knee extensors and flexors muscle strength status including the traditional hamstrings/quadriceps (H/Q), Q/Q, H/H, and the non-dominant H/Q: dominant H/Q, HQ:HQ, ratios were recorded before the 10 month judo activity. Fifteen lower limb sport injuries were recorded for 53 judokas during the follow-up questionnaires. Significant accuracy of dominant H/Q ratio 60º/s (AUC 0.702, 95% CI 0.520 to .883, p = 0.023), as well as HQ:HQ ratios 300º/s (AUC .318, 95% CI 0.138 to 0.497, p = 0.040), and 60 º/s (AUC 0.311, 95% CI 0.130 to 0.491, p = .033) were revealed discriminating between injured and uninjured judokas. The optimum cut-off of dominant H/Q ratio associated with belonging to uninjured judokas group was 43.2% (sensitivity, 0.974; specificity, 0.533). Isokinetic knee muscle dynamometry is useful for predicting the likelihood of lower limb injuries in professional judokas during competitive activity.

Summary

• Pre-participation testing of ipsilateral and bilateral knee extensors and flexors strength ratios can contribute to an injury prevention program for judokas.

• Ipsilateral and bilateral strength ratios should be monitored at lower and higher angular isokinetic velocities.

KEYWORDS:

• Isokinetic strength
• injury prediction
• ratio of agonist to antagonist muscles
• judo

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author, MH, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.