Age-dependent Knee Joint Isokinetic Profile in Professional Male Soccer Players

Abstract

Background: The knee-joint isokinetic profile (KJIP) injury risk factor may be modulated by chronological age, however, comparative data for elite male soccer players aged 25 years and older is lacking. Objective: To describe and compare the knee-joint isokinetic profile (KJIP) according to the chronological age of professional male soccer players. Method: In a cross-sectional study design, sixty-three soccer athletes from the first Chilean soccer division (A-series) were divided into younger and older groups (age ≤ 25 years; n = 35 and age 25 years; n = 28, respectively). In both groups the IPKJ was assessed at 60°.s-1 in concentric mode. Results: The older group had lower extensor peak torque (p .05). The younger group showed correlations between flexors peak torque and extensors mean power (p .001). In the older group, flexors peak torque and flexors mean power were correlated. The flexors peak torque, total work, and mean power symmetric index (SI) exhibited values 10 % for both groups. The extensors SI showed values 10 % for mean power, although only in the older group. Conclusion: Several differences in the KJIP were noted between professional male soccer players aged ≤ 25 years and 25 years. Current results offer injury prevention insights, discussed in the current manuscript.