Hamstrings and quadriceps muscle size and strength in female and male elite competitive alpine skiers
Competitive alpine skiing requires a high level of physical fitness to perform sport-specific manoeuvres and to minimise the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for the maximal anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSAmax) of the individual hamstrings (HAM) and quadri...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1444300/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841553888472203264 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel P. Fitze Daniel P. Fitze Martino V. Franchi Martino V. Franchi Clarissa Müller Brusco Nadine Engeler Nadine Engeler Walter O. Frey Walter O. Frey Jörg Spörri Jörg Spörri |
| author_facet | Daniel P. Fitze Daniel P. Fitze Martino V. Franchi Martino V. Franchi Clarissa Müller Brusco Nadine Engeler Nadine Engeler Walter O. Frey Walter O. Frey Jörg Spörri Jörg Spörri |
| author_sort | Daniel P. Fitze |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Competitive alpine skiing requires a high level of physical fitness to perform sport-specific manoeuvres and to minimise the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for the maximal anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSAmax) of the individual hamstrings (HAM) and quadriceps (QUAD) muscles as well as for the maximal voluntary torque (MVT) during knee flexion (KF) and knee extension (KE) of female and male elite competitive alpine skiers. Ultrasound and dynamometer data were obtained from a largely overlapping but not identical dataset. The ultrasound data were collected from 33 elite alpine skiers (20 women and 13 men), and the dynamometer data were collected from 35 elite alpine skiers (20 women and 15 men). Compared with female skiers, male skiers presented a significantly greater ACSAmax in the biceps femoris short head (BFsh), biceps femoris long head (BFlh), and semitendinosus (ST) muscles, as well as in the entire HAM muscle group. The ACSAmax of the semimembranosus (SM) did not differ significantly between the two sexes. Compared with female skiers, male skiers presented significantly greater ACSAmax values in the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM) and entire QUAD muscle groups. At VI, there was no significant difference in the ACSAmax between the two sexes. Compared with male skiers, female skiers had a significantly greater proportional SM ACSAmax. In terms of MVT, male skiers presented greater absolute and relative values than females did. There were no differences in the MVT/ACSAmax between the sexes. Neither the HAM/QUAD ACSAmax ratio nor the KF/KE MVT ratio differed between the sexes. The present study provides normative values for the muscle size and strength of the HAM and QUAD muscles of elite competitive alpine skiers. These values can be used as benchmarks for youth alpine skiers striving for the elite level. An interesting finding of the present study was that female skiers had a greater proportional ACSAmax of the SM, as this may be relevant in anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention given the function of tibia internal rotation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a89074a6db84992adf0a176b413fc17 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a89074a6db84992adf0a176b413fc172025-01-09T06:10:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-01-011510.3389/fphys.2024.14443001444300Hamstrings and quadriceps muscle size and strength in female and male elite competitive alpine skiersDaniel P. Fitze0Daniel P. Fitze1Martino V. Franchi2Martino V. Franchi3Clarissa Müller Brusco4Nadine Engeler5Nadine Engeler6Walter O. Frey7Walter O. Frey8Jörg Spörri9Jörg Spörri10Department of Orthopaedics, Sports Medical Research Group, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Orthopaedics, University Centre for Prevention and Sports Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Orthopaedics, Sports Medical Research Group, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandHuman Neuromuscular Physiology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, ItalyHuman Neuromuscular Physiology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, ItalyDepartment of Orthopaedics, Sports Medical Research Group, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Orthopaedics, University Centre for Prevention and Sports Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Orthopaedics, Sports Medical Research Group, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Orthopaedics, University Centre for Prevention and Sports Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Orthopaedics, Sports Medical Research Group, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Orthopaedics, University Centre for Prevention and Sports Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandCompetitive alpine skiing requires a high level of physical fitness to perform sport-specific manoeuvres and to minimise the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for the maximal anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSAmax) of the individual hamstrings (HAM) and quadriceps (QUAD) muscles as well as for the maximal voluntary torque (MVT) during knee flexion (KF) and knee extension (KE) of female and male elite competitive alpine skiers. Ultrasound and dynamometer data were obtained from a largely overlapping but not identical dataset. The ultrasound data were collected from 33 elite alpine skiers (20 women and 13 men), and the dynamometer data were collected from 35 elite alpine skiers (20 women and 15 men). Compared with female skiers, male skiers presented a significantly greater ACSAmax in the biceps femoris short head (BFsh), biceps femoris long head (BFlh), and semitendinosus (ST) muscles, as well as in the entire HAM muscle group. The ACSAmax of the semimembranosus (SM) did not differ significantly between the two sexes. Compared with female skiers, male skiers presented significantly greater ACSAmax values in the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM) and entire QUAD muscle groups. At VI, there was no significant difference in the ACSAmax between the two sexes. Compared with male skiers, female skiers had a significantly greater proportional SM ACSAmax. In terms of MVT, male skiers presented greater absolute and relative values than females did. There were no differences in the MVT/ACSAmax between the sexes. Neither the HAM/QUAD ACSAmax ratio nor the KF/KE MVT ratio differed between the sexes. The present study provides normative values for the muscle size and strength of the HAM and QUAD muscles of elite competitive alpine skiers. These values can be used as benchmarks for youth alpine skiers striving for the elite level. An interesting finding of the present study was that female skiers had a greater proportional ACSAmax of the SM, as this may be relevant in anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention given the function of tibia internal rotation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1444300/fullmuscle sizemuscle strengthathletesalpine ski racinginjury prevention |
| spellingShingle | Daniel P. Fitze Daniel P. Fitze Martino V. Franchi Martino V. Franchi Clarissa Müller Brusco Nadine Engeler Nadine Engeler Walter O. Frey Walter O. Frey Jörg Spörri Jörg Spörri Hamstrings and quadriceps muscle size and strength in female and male elite competitive alpine skiers Frontiers in Physiology muscle size muscle strength athletes alpine ski racing injury prevention |
| title | Hamstrings and quadriceps muscle size and strength in female and male elite competitive alpine skiers |
| title_full | Hamstrings and quadriceps muscle size and strength in female and male elite competitive alpine skiers |
| title_fullStr | Hamstrings and quadriceps muscle size and strength in female and male elite competitive alpine skiers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hamstrings and quadriceps muscle size and strength in female and male elite competitive alpine skiers |
| title_short | Hamstrings and quadriceps muscle size and strength in female and male elite competitive alpine skiers |
| title_sort | hamstrings and quadriceps muscle size and strength in female and male elite competitive alpine skiers |
| topic | muscle size muscle strength athletes alpine ski racing injury prevention |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1444300/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielpfitze hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT danielpfitze hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT martinovfranchi hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT martinovfranchi hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT clarissamullerbrusco hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT nadineengeler hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT nadineengeler hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT walterofrey hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT walterofrey hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT jorgsporri hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers AT jorgsporri hamstringsandquadricepsmusclesizeandstrengthinfemaleandmaleelitecompetitivealpineskiers |