The investigation of isokinetic knee strength and muscle balance of taekwondo and wrestling athletes

Taekwondo and wrestling are two different Olympic combat sports that need lower extremity strength in different ways. During the training process that lasts for many years, the harmony in the leg muscles may be dissimilar. This study aims to determine (1) the knee extension and flexion strength values of elite taekwondo and wrestling athletes with similar physical and demographic characteristics and (2) the muscle balances formed after long-term taekwondo and wrestling training. This study was conducted with the voluntary participation of 20 elite taekwondo and wrestling athletes (age: 20.4±1.27 years; experience: 10.6±1.98 years; height 176.65±5.86 cm; weight 72.96±6, 96 kg; BMI 23.35±1.47 kg/m2). Following the determination of the demographic and physical characteristics of the athletes, their isokinetic knee strengths were examined at an angular velocity of 600/s and compared between taekwondo and wrestling. Accordingly, the differences between the extension relative and average peak torque strengths of the athletes were significant in favour of the taekwondo players in the extension strength. On the other hand, the hamstring/quadriceps strength ratios of the taekwondo athletes were lower (p0.05). The study results showed that taekwondo players have higher extension strength. In the observed groups, it was determined that the muscular asymmetry occurred at different levels because of the adaptation specific to the sport type. Taekwondo trainings allows more balanced hamstring/quadriceps muscle harmony than wrestling. It is recommended to develop training programs in which the flexor muscles are trained against muscular imbalances in wrestling.