Correlation of Upper and Lower Extremities Isokinetic Strength in Elite Male Judokas

Abstract

Background and purpose Muscle strength is one of the most physically important parameters during the competition for judokas. Studies have shown that for judokas, strength in especially the knee and shoulder muscles and the strength balance between right and left sides is very important in terms of both staying in balance and doing specific techniques correctly. Our study aims to find out the correlations between isokinetic lower and upper extremity strength in elite judokas and to examine bilateral and contralateral strength ratios. Methods This study is designed according to cross-experimental design with randomized repeated measurements. Fifteen male (mean values: age 19.40 +/- 1.24 years, height 170.55 +/- 9.44 cm, weight 78.47 +/- 18.55 kg, and BMI 27.02 +/- 5.82 kg/m(2)) elite judokas between the ages of 18 and 21 participated voluntarily in the study. Knee extension (EX) and flexion (FLX), shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) isokinetic strength measurements of the subjects were measured with concentric/concentric (Con/Con) contractions at 60 degrees s(-1) and 180 degrees s(-1) angular velocities. Ipsilateral hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q), internal rotation/ external rotation (IR/ER), contralateral Q/Q, H/H, IR/IR, ER/ER ratios were calculated through lower and upper extremity isokinetic strength. Shapiro-Wilk, Levene, paired sample t-test, and Pearson correlation test were used in statistical analyses. Results In terms of the ipsilateral strength ratios on dominant (DS) and nondominant (NDS) in lower and upper extremities, a significant difference was found only at 60 degrees s(-1) angular velocity in only the lower extremity on DS (P < 0.05). In contralateral strength ratios, a statistically significant difference was found between Q/Q and H/H at 60 degrees s(-1) angular velocity (P < 0.05). When the correlations between lower and upper extremities were examined, no significant difference was found only between ER and FLX on DS at 60 degrees s(-1) angular velocity (P > 0.05). High correlations were found between all other parameters (P > 0.05). Conclusions In conclusion, it was found that lateral asymmetric ratios may differ in elite judokas especially at low angular velocities; however, this difference was not at a level to cause the risk of injury, DS and NDS showed similar strength in both lower and upper extremity, and there were high positive correlations between lower and upper extremity strength.