Effect of Hip Flexion Angle on the Hamstring to Quadriceps Strength Ratio

The purpose of this study was to compare the hamstring to quadriceps ratio (H:Q) obtained from three different hip flexion angles. Seventy-three young athletes performed maximum isokinetic concentric and eccentric knee extension and flexion efforts at 60 degrees.s(-1) and 240 degrees.s(-1) from hip flexion angles of 90 degrees, 60 degrees, and 120 degrees. The conventional (concentric to concentric), functional (eccentric to concentric) and mixed (eccentric at 30 degrees.s(-1) to concentric torque at 240 degrees.s(-1)) H:Q torque ratios and the electromyographic activity from the rectus femoris and biceps femoris were analyzed. The conventional H:Q ratios and the functional H:Q ratios at 60 degrees.s(-1) did not significantly differ between the three testing positions (p > 0.05). In contrast, testing from the 90 degrees hip flexion angle showed a greater functional torque ratio at 240 degrees.s(-1) and a mixed H:Q torque ratio compared with the other two positions (p < 0.05). The hip flexion angle did not influence the recorded muscle activation signals (p > 0.05). For the range of hip flexion angles tested, routine isokinetic assessment of conventional H:Q ratio and functional H:Q ratio at slow speed is not angle-dependent. Should assessment of the functional H:Q ratio at fast angular velocity or the mixed ratio is required, then selection of hip flexion angle is important.