ISOKINETIC STRENGTH PROFILE OF HIP MUSCLE GROUPS AT TWO DIFFERENT TESTING POSITIONS.

The purpose of this research was to compare isokinetic strength of hip muscles at two different testing positions in healthy male and female subjects. Twenty-two male and seventeen female subjects were included in this study. Isokinetic concentric ratios of the hip muscle groups were recorded in supine and standing (for flexors/extensors) and side-lying and standing positions (for adductors/abductors) at different angular velocities (60o, 180o/s). The isokinetic ratios of hip muscle groups significantly increased with increasing test velocity in both the supine/side-lying and standing position for all subjects. Also, the hip muscle groups' ratios increased in the standing position at 60o/s for all subjects and at 180o/s for male subjects only, which indicated that males experienced greater increases in hip muscles strength ratios in standing position at 180o, whereas females demonstrated less ratios in the same position. It was concluded that, with a high angular velocity in standing position, the isokinetic tests of hip muscles' groups ratios provide a strong indicator for hip muscles imbalance. Consequently, muscular deficiencies occurring at specific contractile speeds might be identified and corrected by having the patient exercise isokinetically at the speeds at which the deficiencies occurred.