ORIGINAL PAPER
Knee flexion and extension strength in young Brazilian soccer players: the effect of age and position
 
More details
Hide details
1
Physical Education Department, Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 
2
Doctoral Program in Epidemiology in Public Health, ENSP/FioCruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 
3
Physical Education Graduate Program, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 
4
São Paulo FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, São Paulo, Brazil
 
5
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
 
 
Submission date: 2018-01-10
 
 
Acceptance date: 2018-03-14
 
 
Publication date: 2018-07-26
 
 
Hum Mov. 2018;19(3):23-29
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
To compare isokinetic knee flexors and extensors concentric muscle strength in young soccer players of different ages and playing positions.

Methods:
Seventy-seven young male soccer players were divided into 3 age categories: U-15, U-17, and U-20, with the consideration of 4 game positions: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The concentric tests of the hamstrings (Hcon) and quadriceps (Qcon) were performed at 30°/s, 60°/s, and 180°/s, and the ratio of 180°/30° was calculated.

Results:
The values of Qcon for the U-15 turned out significantly lower in comparison with the U-20 in 30°/s and 180°/s and in the 180°/30° ratio. The Hcon values for the U-15 were significantly lower than for the U-20 at 30°/s, 60°/s, 180°/s, as well as in the 180°/30° ratio. Strength levels were shown to be significantly different between the 3 analysed categories. The goalkeepers presented with Qcon and Hcon values significantly higher than the other playing positions, regardless of the angular velocity used.

Conclusions:
U-15, U-17, and U-20 athletes do not have the same level of strength. The goalkeepers demonstrated high strength values, suggesting the importance of specific training for each game position.

ISSN:1899-1955
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top