Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
Effect of Sports and Growth on Hamstrings and Quadriceps Development in Young Female Athletes: Cross-Sectional Study
Dai Sugimoto1,2,3, Dennis R Borg4,5, Anna N Brilliant4,5
1The Micheli Center-for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA 02453, USA. dai.sugimoto@childrens.harvard.edu.
Context:
Lower extremity muscular strength may vary by different sport participation during growth process.
Objective:
To investigate effect of sport participation and growth by comparing strength of the hamstrings, quadriceps, and hamstrings to quadriceps strength ratio (H:Q ratio) between young female figure skaters and soccer players.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Settings:
Laboratory affiliated with regional sports medicine center.
Participants:
pediatric and adolescent female athletes.
Procedures:
Isometric hamstrings and quadriceps strength were measured.
Main Outcome Measures:
Strength of the hamstrings, quadriceps, and hamstrings to quadriceps strength ratio (H:Q ratio).
Statistical Analysis:
Effect of sport participation and growth was analyzed through a two-way (two sports: figure skaters and soccer players; three age groups: <12 years, 13-16 years, and >17 years) analysis of covariance.
Results:
Hamstrings strength was significantly greater in figure skaters than soccer players. Also, hamstring strength of 13-16 years and >17 years was higher compared to <12 years. Additionally, significantly higher H:Q ratio in figure skaters compared to soccer players.
Conclusions:
There is effect of growth on hamstrings strength among 13-16 years and >17 years compared to <12 years. Figure skaters showed greater hamstrings strength and H:Q ratio than female soccer players.
Related Concept Videos
Cross-Sectional Research
Profile Leveling and Cross Sections
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
Crossing Over
The homologous pairs of sister chromosomes—one from the maternal and one from the paternal genome—then begin to align alongside each other lengthwise, matching corresponding DNA positions in a process...
Monohybrid Crosses
Dihybrid Crosses

