TY - JOUR AU - Alhammoud, Marine; Morel, Baptiste; Hansen, Clint; Wilson, Mathew; Mecca, Regis; Nael, Erick; Hautier, Christophe TI - Discipline and Sex Differences in Angle-specific Isokinetic Analysis in Elite Skiers SN - 0172-4622 SN - 1439-3964 PY - 2019 JO - Int J Sports Med JF - International Journal of Sports Medicine LA - EN VL - 40 IS - 05 SP - 317 EP - 330 ET - 2019/03/11 DA - 2019/05/03 KW - hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio KW - knee joint imbalances KW - torque angle relationship KW - knee injury prevention KW - statistical parametric mapping AB - Standard outcomes of traditional isokinetic testing do not detect differences between various muscle mechanical properties. This study i) explored a novel analysis throughout the range of motion based on statistical parametric mapping and ii) examined the impact of sex and discipline on hamstrings/quadriceps torque in elite alpine skiers. Twenty-eight national team skiers (14 females, 14 males; 14 technical, 14 speed) undertook an isokinetic evaluation of the knee flexors/extensors (range 30–90°, 0° representing full extension). There was no effect of sex (p=0.864, d=0.03) and discipline (p=0.360, d=0.17) on maximal hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio and no effect of discipline on maximal torque (p>0.156, d≤0.25). Hamstrings torque and hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio were lower in females than males toward knee extension only (p<0.05). Quadriceps torque was greater after 72° of knee flexion in technicians than downhill skiers (p<0.05). The current data showed that statistical parametric mapping analysis identified angle-specific differences that could not be evidenced when analyzing only maximal torques and reconstructed ratios. This may enhance screening methods to identify pathologic knee function or monitor rehabilitation programs, and inform sex- and discipline-specific training in alpine skiing. PB - © Georg Thieme Verlag KG DO - 10.1055/a-0850-0016 UR - http://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-0850-0016 ER -