[Isokinetic thigh muscle strength in sports: a review]

There is growing evidence that isokinetic muscle strength, is one of the most common testing method why muscle strength is thought to be a major factor in athletic success and rehabilitation. A lot of publications during the last 20 years concerned the peak torque, the concentric ratio flexor/extensor, with comparison between males and females, sport specialties, young and old people. Isokinetic is also used for evaluation of knee disorders. The results are very useful after knee ligament surgery, less for femoro-patellar disorders and arthrosis. More recently some authors proposed the functional concept (eccentric flexors/concentric extensors ratio) as a predictive method for preventive muscle injuries or ACL lesions. They demonstrated more discomfort after muscle disorders with isokinetic eccentric testing, and proposed rehabilitation programs for prevention. However apart from a few situations, isokinetic testing does not fully predict functional measurements. It must be used with other techniques of evaluation (clinical methods and imagery).