Comparison of Quadriceps Muscle Strength Between Injured and Non-Injured Track and Field Athletes in Universities in the Colombo District and Common Knee Ligament Injuries

Abstract

The knee is the most common injury site in athletes. The strength of the muscles surrounding the knee joint is a critical component in the stabilization of the knee joint. The prime aim of the study was to compare the quadriceps muscle strength between injured and non-injured athletes in the Colombo district and to describe common knee ligament injuries among them. Descriptive comparative study was conducted in 3 selected universities in the Colombo district by grouping as injured and non-injured including 40 participants in each group using systematic consecutive sampling method. Data were collected using an intervieweradministered questionnaire. A hand-held dynamometer was used to measure quadriceps muscle strength. The mean age of the injured group was 22.9 years (SD +/-1.25) while in non-injured was 23.18 years (SD +/- 1.44). The average practicing hours was 2.28 hours per day (SD +/-0.45) and the number of days was 4.88 days per week (SD+/-0.79). The majority of the participants had injured their dominant side (77.5%). The mean quadriceps muscle strength of males in the injured group (28.5kg, SD+/-9.72) was significantly lower than that of (36.7kg, SD+/-4.54) noninjured group (p=0.001). Mean muscle strength in the female injured group (16.7kg, SD+/-5.24) was significantly lower than (19.6kg, SD+/-4.55) the non-injured group (p=0.026). The most common type of ligament injury was ACL (37.5%). The majority of male participants who had ACL injury were participated in the 200 m event (30%). The majority of female participants who had meniscal injury which was the most common type, participated in 200m, long jump and 110m hurdles events (20% in each). In athletes with knee ligament injury, quadriceps muscle strength was lower than non-injured athletes. The most common ligament injury was ACL injury. The majority of males had ACL injuries while the majority of females had meniscal injuries followed by ACL injury.