Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 78, Issue 11 , Pages 1224-1230, November 1997

Concentric and eccentric isokinetic assessment of flexorextensor torque ratios at the hip, knee, and ankle in a sample population of healthy subjects☆☆☆

  • Paul M. Calmels, MD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Paul Calmels, MD, Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation, CHRU, H6pital Bellevue, F. 42055 Saint-Etienne Cedex 2, France.
    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and GIP Exercice, Jacques Lisfranc School of Medicine, Saint-Etienne University, Saint-Etienne, France
    • ,
  • Marielle Nellen, BS

      Affiliations

    • Movement Sciences, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Inge van der Borne, BS

      Affiliations

    • Movement Sciences, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Pierre Jourdin, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and GIP Exercice, Jacques Lisfranc School of Medicine, Saint-Etienne University, Saint-Etienne, France
    • ,
  • Pierre Minaire, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and GIP Exercice, Jacques Lisfranc School of Medicine, Saint-Etienne University, Saint-Etienne, France

Received 7 November 1996; accepted 28 March 1997.

Article Outline

Abstract 

Objective: To establish the relationship between the flexor/ extensor torque ratios in the hip, knee, and ankle.

Design: Case series.

Setting: Laboratory of a university rehabilitation department.

Participants: From a group of 158 healthy volunteers, 138 subjects completed all the tests in concentric mode, and 65 in eccentric mode.

Main Outcome Measure: The flexor/extensor torque ratios of the hip, knee, and ankle were analyzed by means of isokinetic concentric and eccentric tests. Analysis of variance was carried out to compare the mean values of the ratios obtained between the male and female populations and between the right and left sides, and correlation analysis between the values of the joints.

Results: The flexor/extensor torque ratios differed significantly according to sex and angular velocities, but not according to side except for the ankle. No significant relationship was found between the flexor/extensor torque ratios in the hip, knee, and ankle joints.

Conclusions: The flexor-extensor torque ratio of the knee and hip can be used as a reference point during rehabilitation of the contralateral side. Our results demonstrating the absence of correlation between the flexor/extensor torque ratio in each joint of the same limb, however, call for further longitudinal studies to be made under specific circumstances, such as training or immobilization of one joint, to follow the course of agonist/ antagonist ratios and the synergistic activity between the joints.

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☆ Supported by the Center for Exercise Studies (GIP Exercise) associating University Jean Monnet, Ministry of Sport and Education, University Claude-Bernard (Lyon I), and EEC Erasmus programs.

☆☆ No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(97)90336-1

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 78, Issue 11 , Pages 1224-1230, November 1997

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