Objective: Hamstring/quadriceps ratio and the change in muscle function and strength has been analyzed and strength/function enhancing training has been applied to find out the effects.
Method: 30 Taekwondo club members from 'H' were chosen and divid...
Objective: Hamstring/quadriceps ratio and the change in muscle function and strength has been analyzed and strength/function enhancing training has been applied to find out the effects.
Method: 30 Taekwondo club members from 'H' were chosen and divided into 2 groups of 15 people. For the exercise program, resistance equipment was used and the experiment group underwent leg curl, isotonic exercise for 8 weeks (once a day, 3 times a week). Measurement devices used were height, weight, isokinetic muscle strength test, balance, maximal taekwondo kicking speed test, isokinetic Hamstring/Quadriceps muscle ratio - H/Q ratio(%). Measurements were taken before and after experimentation and were analyzed.
Results: For both groups, peak torque for both left and right legs showed a significant difference(p<.05) before and after. H/Q ratio for both left and rights legs showed a significant difference(p<.05) in the experiment group only. Both groups showed a significant difference(p<.05) before and after for balance; and maximal taekwondo kicking speed showed a significant difference(p<.05) in the experiment group only.
Conclusion: Knee flexor exercise was shown to enhance muscle ratio and function, with improvements being made in hamstring/quadriceps ratio, maximal kicking speed and balance. Hence, lower body exercise is an effective training method for Taekwondo athletes and further research should be pursued.