The Relationship between Anthropometric Variables and Isokinetic Strength in a Women’s Collegiate Soccer Team

Abstract

Knee isokinetic strength has been reported to be correlated with body fat, fat free mass, and BMI in college students. It is unclear if these anthropometric variables are related to isokinetic performance in relatively homogeneous groups of athletes. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between common anthropometrics and average torque production of the knee extensors in a women’s collegiate soccer team. METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy female collegiate soccer athletes aged 18-22 years participated. The participants had no history of significant lower leg injuries. Participants were screened using standard anthropometric measurements that included: height, weight, and skinfold measures of the triceps, suprailiac, and thigh areas. The measurements allowed for calculation of the BMI, lean body mass, lean body mass index (LBMI), and body fat percentage. Isokinetic strength of knee flexion and extension was measured through three angular velocities of 60, 180, and 300 degrees/sec. The relationships between the anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, lean body mass, LBMI, body fat percentage) and average peak torques at the three angular velocities were assessed utilizing hierarchal linear regression and bivariate correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Hierarchal linear regression revealed a significant relationship for average peak torque at 180 degrees/sec, (F = 3.994 (3, 24); p = .019), with BMI, lean body mass, and body fat as the predictors. Further analysis utilizing Pearson’s bivariate correlation coefficient matrix found moderate correlations between average peak torque and BMI (.362 to .557; p<.05), lean body mass (.404 to .425; p<.05), and LBMI (.376 to .413; p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results found in this athletic population differ from previous research involving physically active nonathletes of a similar age. While anthropometric measures have been reported to be related to isokinetic knee strength in nonathletes, in this athletic population the relationship varied depending on the angular velocity. The results suggest that anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, BMI, lean body mass, LBMI, and body fat percentage may not be strong predictors of isokinetic knee muscle strength across angular velocities in an athletic population.