The effect of isometric contraction periods added during isotonic strengthening training of knee extensor muscles on isokinetic parameters in healthy sedentary individuals

This work; is materialised to determine the effect of isometric contraction periods added during isotonic strengthening training of knee extensor muscles on isokinetic parameters in Healthy Sedentary Individuals. 43 volunteers with an age range 18-40 who refer to the Sportsman Health and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Clinic, Sportomed, did not have a knee-related disability, had no operation and did not have any neurological or cardiac problems were included in the study. The volunteers are separated into two groups randomly. The first group included 21 people with a mean age of 29.9 ± 5,2 years and the second group included 22 people with a mean age of 27,5±4,31 years. In the first group, 10 repetitive, isotonic contractions were made in 2 sets of Leg Extension at 60% of 1 Quadriceps Femoris (QF) muscle's Maximum Repeat (1MT) strength. However, at the end of the isotonic contraction (at 0 degree), people are asked to keep the weight they have lifted for 5 seconds (isometric contraction). In the second group, 10 repetitive, isotonic contractions were performed in 2 sets of Leg Extension at 60% of the maximum force of QF muscle. In each group, 60 s rest period was given between each set. In both groups, the exercise program was scheduled to take 8 weeks, with the exception of the assessment day, and 3 days per week. Thigh circumference measurement, 1 MT force measurement and isokinetic muscle strength test measurements were repeated before and after the study. QF isokinetic muscle strength test was done with CSMİ Humac Norm 2004 isokinetic dynamometer at 600 /s five repetitive maximum power and at 1800 /s fifteen repetitive maximum power. As a result of isokinetic test, QF peak torque, newton meter (PT) (Nm) values were measured. As a result of this study, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups before and after the study, between right and left leg isokinetic QF force test between 600 /s and 1800 /s means (p> 0.05). However, when group 1 and group 2 were evaluated separately, after the study; both the right and left QF muscles isokinetic strength test 600 /s, 1800 /s averages, 1MT force average and thigh circumference measurement average were detected statistically significantly higher than data which are before the study (p <0.05).As a result, our study shows that both strengthening methods in healthy sedentary individuals increased the isokinetic strength of the QF muscle, 1 MT isotonic strength and muscle mass, but did not exert a significant superiority over each other.