Muscular function of lower limbs and muscular mass in soccer players

Abstract

Introduction: In soccer muscular strength plays a key role in the technical / tactics actions during the game. Objective: To investigate the relationship between lower limb muscle function and total muscle mass in players. Methods: Sixteen players performed concentric isokinetic evaluation on extension and knee flexion by dominant member. Anthropometric evaluations and muscle mass estimates were performed. Results: It was observed that the total muscle mass presented a positive relation with the peak torque (r = 0.67, p = 0.005, r = 0.62, p = 0.011) 0.017, r = 0.60, p = 0.015) and overall function (r = 0.59, p = 0.017, r = 0.60, p = 0.013) on knee extension in both limbs and total work = 0.63, p = 0.009) in the dominant limb only. No significant relationship was found in the knee flexion action. Conclusion: The relationship between total muscle mass and muscle function variables can be used as indicators of strength capacity and functional asymmetries of lower limbs in players.