Abstract
The strength of the quadriceps muscle was evaluated according to type of sports events in 343 healthy males. The types of sports events studied were : soccer, rugby, American football, judo, volleyball, sprint and long-distance.
Peak muscle torque and peak muscle torque per kilogram of body weight at angular velocities of 60°/sec and 180°/sec were measured using CybexⅡ+. The mean value of peak muscle torque per kilogram of body weight was obtained for each type of sports events. A regression line was obtained for each type of sports events from the body weight and peak muscle torque values. The differences among the slopes were analyzed.
The mean of peak muscle torque per kilogram of body weight was highest in American football. The value of peak muscle torque per kilogram of body weight characterized the nature of the sports events. The slope of the regression line was greatest in volleyball ; judo had the smallest slope. The differences in the slopes of the regression line between judo and the other sports events were significant. The differences in the slopes were related to the athletes' amplitude of vertical positional change of the center of gravity (magnitude of potential energy).
