Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Sports Medicine
ISSN
2199-1170
Volume
5
Issue
1
First Page
11
Last Page
11
PubMed ID
30911856
Publisher
Springer
School
Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
29218
Abstract
The hamstrings-to-quadriceps muscle strength ratio calculated by peak torque has been used as an important tool to detect muscle imbalance, monitor knee joint stability, describe muscle strength properties and functionality, and for lower extremity injury prevention and rehabilitation. However, this ratio does not consider other neuromuscular variables that can also influence the antagonist to agonist muscle relationship, such as torque produced at multiple angles of range of motion, explosive strength, muscle size, muscle fatigue, or muscle activation. The aim of this study was to comprehensively review alternative methods of determining the hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio. These include ratios calculated by angle-specific torque, rate of torque development, muscle size, fatigue index, and muscle activation (measured by electromyography). Collectively, the literature demonstrates that utilizing alternative methods of determining the hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio can be functionally relevant for a better understanding of the neuromuscular mechanisms underpinning the interaction of strength between hamstrings and quadriceps. However, there is insufficient evidence to recommend any of the alternative methods as sensitive clinical tools for predicting injury risk and monitoring knee joint integrity. Future longitudinal studies, along with injury incidence, are needed to further investigate all alternative methods of determining the hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio. These have potential to offer insight into how athletes and the general population should be trained for performance enhancement and injury reduction, and may be used along with traditional methods for a thorough assessment of an individual's H:Q muscle balance.
DOI
10.1186/s40798-019-0185-0
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Ruas, C. V., Pinto, R. S., Haff, G. G., Lima, C. D., Pinto, M. D., & Brown, L. E. (2019). Alternative methods of determining hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratios: A comprehensive review. Sports Medicine - Open, 5, Article 11. Available here