Effect of a lateral step-up exercise protocol on quadriceps and lower extremity performance

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises are often favored over open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises for functional training.
• Research on the specific effects of CKC exercise on quadriceps strength and overall lower extremity performance is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a lateral step-up exercise protocol on isokinetic quadriceps peak torque.
• To evaluate the effects of this protocol on key lower extremity performance measures: leg press, maximal step-up repetitions, hop for distance, and 6-m timed hop.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week training program involving lateral step-ups was administered to an experimental group (n=20).
• A control group (n=18) did not participate in the training protocol.
• Performance was assessed pre- and post-training using isokinetic dynamometry and functional lower extremity tests.

Main Results:

• The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements (p < .05) in leg press, step-up repetitions, hop for distance, and 6-m timed hop.
• No significant increase in isokinetic quadriceps peak torque was observed (p > .05) in the experimental group.
• The control group showed no significant changes in any measured variable (p > .05).

Conclusions:

• Lateral step-up training enhances functional lower extremity performance but may not significantly alter isokinetic quadriceps peak torque.
• Isokinetic dynamometry might not fully capture strength gains from CKC exercises, highlighting its limitations as a sole criterion for return to activity.
• CKC exercises offer valuable methods for assessing and rehabilitating lower extremity function.