Relationship between lower extremity alignment, adductor longus muscle architecture and anaerobic power parameters in...

Purpose: To examine the relationship between the frontal plane alignment of the lower extremity, adductor longus muscle architecture (cross-sectional area and thickness), and anaerobic power capacity. Methods: Football players aged 14-16 joined the study and were evaluated for lower extremity alignment in the frontal plane radiographs. We examined adductor longus muscle thickness and cross-sectional area on both sides with ultrasound. To evaluate anaerobic power capacity, we did a 30-second Wingate test. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed. Results: 27 football players were enrolled in the study. The anatomical axis angle of the right side was 2.85 ± 1.75, and left side was 2.67 ± 1.62. A positive and strong correlation was found between both side muscle cross-sectional area and maximum and average power (right: r = 0.829, p < 0.001; r = 0.851, p < 0.001, left: r = 0.742, p < 0.001; r = 0.789, p < 0.001, respectively), and the right and left muscle thickness and the maximum and average power (right: r = 0.678, p < 0.001; r = 0.717, p < 0.001, left: r = 0.714, p < 0.001; r = 0.741, p < 0.001, respectively). The multiple regression analysis found that average power could be assessed with right and left axis angles, right muscle cross-sectional area, age, body mass index, and career duration. The analysis showed that these variables accounted for 80.3% of the variability in the average power (F (6,20) =13.558, p < 0.001). Same independent variables could explain 77.6% of the variability in the maximum power (F (6,20) = 11.577, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Muscle thickness and cross-sectional area strongly correlate with average and maximum power. The cross-sectional area and lower extremity alignment angle in the dominant leg could be used to estimate anaerobic power outputs.