Abstract des Autors

Muscular strength, power and muscle endurance play an important part in most sports and have been determined over the last three decades with isokinetic equipment. The minimum muscle torque ratio of hamstrings to quadriceps in triathletes is difficult to prescribe since it depends on age, height and body mass and is influenced by at least three of the following four sports: swimming, canoeing, cycling and running. The aim of the study was to determine the absolute and relative torque and muscle endurance of the hamstring and quadriceps muscles, their ratio and to set norms that can be used in future evaluation of participants in the Ultraman-competition. Fifty-five of the 130 top ranked 1987/1988 Ultraman competitors were tested on a Cybex II isokinetic dynamometer according to the prescribed method. The mean absolute and relative torque values of the knee extensors were 194.9+/-39.1 Nm and 2.57+/-0.37 Nm/kg respectively, while the corresponding values for the knee flexors were 99.1+/-21.2 Nm and 1.30+/-0.37 Nm/kg. The knee flexor to knee extensor strength ratio was 0.51 or 50.6%. The results clearly show that the maximal torque and muscle endurance values of the hamstring and quadriceps of Ultraman were lower than the values of other sport participants in general. This discrepancy may be ascribed to the diverse training programme of triathletes especially with regard to the cycling item. Verf.-Referat