Reference Values of Hip Abductor Torque Among Youth Athletes: Influence of Age, Sex and Sports

• Published in: Physical therapy in sport Vol. 21; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Bittencourt, Natália Franco Netto, Santos, Thiago Ribeiro Teles, Gonçalves, Gabriela Gomes Pavan, Coelho, Amanda Priscila, Braz de Magalhães Gomes, Bárbara Gonçalves, Mendonça, Luciana De Michelis, Fonseca, Sérgio Teixeira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2016; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age; Age Factors; Athletes; Basketball; Basketball - physiology; Child; Coaches & managers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethics; Female; Guardians; Hip; Hip Joint - physiology; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Knee; Male; Muscle strength; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Pain; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Physical therapy; Reference Values; Sex Factors; Soccer; Soccer - physiology; Sports injuries; Sports Medicine; Studies; Torque; Values; Volleyball; Volleyball - physiology; Young Adult; Ireland; adolescent; athletes; Muscle strength; hip; Athletes; Hip; Adolescent
• ISSN: 1466-853X; 1873-1600
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2015.12.005

Abstract Objective (1) To determine the reference values of hip abductor torque in youth athletes; (2) To investigate the influence of sex, age and sports on hip abductors torque. Design Cross-sectional. Setting: Sports clubs. Subjects 301 volleyball, basketball and futsal athletes between 10 and 19 years of age. Main outcome measures Mean value of three maximal isometric hip abductor torques, evaluated using a hand-held dynamometer. Results The mean values of maximal isometric hip abductor torque ranged from 1.03 to 1.50 Nm/kg. The dominant hip abductor torque values were greater in 15-19 years old (1.41 ± 0.27 Nm/kg) than in 10-14 years old (1.12 ± 0.31 Nm/kg). In addition, the hip abductor torque values were smaller in basketball players (1.15 ± 0.31 Nm/kg) than futsal (1.34 ± 0.37 Nm/kg) and volleyball players (1.28 ± 0.25 Nm/kg). The comparison of hip abductor torque between futsal and volleyball players revealed no difference. The hip abductor torque values were greater in male volleyball athletes (1.28 ± 0.25 Nm/kg) than female volleyball athletes (1.13 ± 0.22 Nm/kg). Conclusion This study established reference values for maximal isometric hip abductor torque in youth volleyball, basketball and futsal athletes. In addition, the results demonstrated that sex, age and sports influenced hip abductor torque.