Key result
Advancing age decreased the isometric hamstring to quadriceps ratio, with 18% (95% CI: 11-27%) of youth football players demonstrating ratios less than 0.60.
Cross-Sectional (n=110)
The isometric hamstring to quadriceps ratio reduces with advancing age during adolescence in youth football players, which may increase injury risk and inform long-term injury prevention strategies.
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May warrant age-specific H/Q monitoring in youth football; leaves open longitudinal validation for injury prevention.
The objective of this study was to investigate knee muscle strength characteristics in players from a high-level youth football Academy. In total, 110 players (aged 8-15 years) underwent muscle strength assessments carried out by a research physiotherapist using a computer-linked hand-held dynamometer. Results indicated that isometric hamstrings and quadriceps strength increased with age, whereas the isometric hamstring to quadriceps (H/Q) ratio decreased with age. A number of youth football players (n = 20; 18%; 95% CI: 11-27%) demonstrated isometric H/Q ratios of less than 0.60, as well as muscle strength asymmetries between limbs for the hamstrings (n = 40, 36%; 95% CI: 27-46%) and quadriceps (n = 51, 46%; 95% CI 37-56%), potentially increasing injury risk. This study provides new evidence that the isometric H/Q ratio reduces with advancing age during adolescence which may have important implications for junior athlete development and long-term injury prevention in football.
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Peek et al. (2018) conducted a cross-sectional in Youth football (soccer) players (n=110). Advancing age was evaluated on Isometric hamstring to quadriceps (H/Q) ratio <0.60. Advancing age decreased the isometric hamstring to quadriceps ratio, with 18% (95% CI: 11-27%) of youth football players demonstrating ratios less than 0.60.
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