Comparison of hamstring/quadriceps ratio between isoinertial and isokinetic measurements

OBJECTIVE: To determine the applicability and predictive accuracy of an isoinertial resistance machine for the assessment of hamstring/quadriceps conventional (concentric) ratio (CR). METHOD: Thirty-two resistance trained young men (23.53 ± 3.2 yrs) were tested using dedicated instruments to obtain the peak torque (PT) of the right knee extensors and flexors as well as the corresponding one repetition maximum (1RM) values. All measurements were conducted in the concentric mode. RESULTS: Significant (p< 0.05) correlations were indicated between knee extensor and flexor PT and 1RM values (r=0.73 to 0.75), as well as between PT and 1RM CR values (r=0.65). However the isoinertial CR values (0.42 ± 0.05) were significantly (p< 0.05) greater than their isokinetic counterparts (0.36 ± 0.04). CONCLUSION: Caution should be used when comparing isoinertial CR with population-specific isokinetic normative scores