1Post Graduate Student MPTh, Department of ENT, Jamia Hamdard University
2Senior Resident, Department of ENT, Jamia Hamdard University
3Assistant Professor, Jamia Hamdard University
The purpose of this study was to provide clinicians with descriptive data on the isokinetic strength of knee extensor and flexor muscles in asymptomatic females of various age groups i.e., measurement of functional H: Q strength ratio during knee extension representing peak eccentric hamstring to peak concentric quadriceps torque ratio (Hecc: Qcon), functional H: Q strength ratio during knee flexion representing peak concentric hamstring to peak eccentric quadriceps torque ratio (Hcon: Qecc) and also to check whether age has a significant effect on H: Q strength ratio or not.
A normative research design was incorporated to measure the functional H: Q strength ratio at slow angular velocity of 60deg/sec during knee flexion and extension. The measurement was carried out on Biodex isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex multi-joint system 4 pro).
A total of 120 asymptomatic female subjects participated in the study. Subjects were assigned to the four groups on the basis of their age. The mean age and weight of subjects in group1 (21–30 years) was 23.23±1.22 and 55.36±6.10, in group2 (31–40 years) was 34.90±3.22 and 58.96±8.87, in group3 (41–50 years) was 45.40±2.60 and 65.53±8.83, and in group 4 (51–60 years) was 55.13±3.32 and 65.05±8.11 respectively.
Q ratio: The testing was carried out at slow angular velocity of 60deg/sec in sitting position. Subjects performed 3 maximal contractions for both knee flexion and extension movement. Peak torque values recorded and functional H: Q ratio obtained [Both H (con): Q (ecc) & H(ecc):Q(con)].
The statistical analysis of the data showed that the mean functional H: Q strength ratios during knee extension and flexion in group1 were 1.26±0.71 and 0.81±0.18, in group2 were 2.02±1.30 and 0.71±0.25, in group3 were 1.81±1.56 and 0.81±0.22, and in group4 were 2.10±1.32 and 0.82±0.22 respectively. The results also showed a p-value of 0.052 and 0.37 between groups during extension and flexion respectively.
The information provided by the study is useful to the clinicians who have a considerable contact with the female patients of different age groups. The study provided a normative data of functional H: Q strength ratio in females during knee flexion and extension at a speed of 60deg/sec. The study also concluded that there is no significant age effect on functional H: Q strength ratio in females.
Functional HQ ratio [HeccQcon(knee extension) & HconQecc(knee flexion)]
