Hamstrings Strength Imbalance in Professional Football (Soccer) Players in Australia

ABSTRACTArdern, CL, Pizzari, T, Wollin, MR, and Webster, KE. Hamstrings strength imbalance in professional football (soccer) players in Australia. J Strength Cond Res 29(4)997–1002, 2015—The aim of this study was to describe the isokinetic thigh muscle strength profile of professional male football players in Australia. Concentric (60° and 240°·s) and eccentric (30° and 120°·s) hamstrings and quadriceps isokinetic strength was measured with a HUMAC NORM dynamometer. The primary variables were bilateral concentric and eccentric hamstring and quadriceps peak torque ratios, concentric hamstring-quadriceps peak torque ratios, and mixed ratios (eccentric hamstring 30°·s ÷ concentric quadriceps 240°·s). Hamstring strength imbalance was defined as deficits in any 2 ofbilateral concentric hamstring peak torque ratio