Table 1. Mean (±SD) concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) peak torque (Nm) in dominant and non-dominant legs of trained and untrained soccer players.

Present results demonstrate soccer involvement induces significant developments in the isokinetic strength of the knee musculature. The gains in strength were more pronounced in the knee extensors than the flexors and generally more marked at faster angular velocities. These observations may be attributed to the specific muscle loading patterns experienced during soccer related activities. For example, during kicking actions the quadriceps extend the knee rapidly and speeds may approximate 24.4 rad s−1 (Orchard et al., 2002). Atball contact, momentum is transferred from the kicking foot/ankle complex to the ball. In return the ball transmits an opposing torque, loading the quadriceps. Over time this loading process would result in the strengthening of the extensors particularly at the faster velocities but also influences muscle strength at lower velocities.