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Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(8): 1196-1207, 2017. Traditional sport athletes and dancers experience various injuries while participating in their respective sport. Injury rates, especially to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), differ between these populations. Isometric and isokinetic strength and hamstring:quadriceps (H:Q) ratios may help to explain the difference in ACL injury rates between these populations. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the difference in isometric and concentric knee flexion and extension peak torque, and H:Q strength ratios between female dancers and division I collegiate soccer and track and field athletes. Seventeen dancers (20.53±1.51yrs, 65.60±2.06in, 62.29±8.63kg) and 24 traditional sport athletes (19.63±1.17yrs, 65.68±2.52in, 62.84±7.17kg) performed bilateral isometric and concentric knee flexion and extension peak torque on a Biodex System 3 dynamometer. Peak torque and peak torque/body weight were recorded, and H:Q ratios were calculated for both isometric and concentric trials by dividing peak knee flexion torque by peak knee extension torque and were recorded as a percentage. A 2 by 2 (group by limb) ANOVA was used to analyze each dependent variable. Bilaterally, non-dance female athletes demonstrated significantly stronger knee flexion torque and increased H:Q ratios when compared to female dancers. These results, although different from the a priori hypothesis, may be attributed to the strength training the traditional athletes participate in. Future research should investigate other variables, such as hip strength, to better explain the differences in ACL injury rates between dancers and traditional sport athletes.

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