RELATIONSHIPS OF LEG VOLUME, LEG MASS, ANAEROBIC PERFORMANCE AND ISOKINETIC STRENGTH IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between leg volume, leg mass anaerobic performance and isokinetic knee strength in American football players. 26 American football players participated in this study voluntarily. Frustum Method was used for the determination of leg volume, leg mass was determined by the Hanavan Method and the Wingate Anaerobic Power Test (WAnT) was used for the determination of anaerobic performance. Peak isokinetic knee extension and flexion torques were determined at 60º.s^-1, 150º.s^-1 and 240º.s^-1. Results of Pearson Product Moment correlation analysis, indicated that leg volume was significantly correlated with leg mass (r=.838; p 0.01), maximum power (r=.581; p 0.01), mean power (r=.529; p 0.01) and 60º.s^-1 knee extension torque (r=.560; p 0.01). Similarly leg mass was significantly correlated with maximum power (r=.533; p 0.01), mean power (r=.636; p 0.01) and 60º.s^-1 knee extension torque (r=.448; p 0.05). In addition maximum power was significantly correlated with 60º.s^-1 (r=.487 p 0.05), 150º.s^-1 (r=.554; p 0.01) and 240º.s^-1 knee extension (r=.575; p 0.01) and also with 240º.s^-1 knee flexion torques (r=0.553; p 0.05) while mean power was found to be correlated with 60º.s-1 (r=.463; p 0.05), 150º.s^-1 (r=.517; p 0.01) and 240º.s^-1 knee extension torques (r=.496; p 0.01) and 60º.s^-1 knee flexion torques (r=.-404; p 0.05). As a conclusion, the findings of the present study indicated that leg volume and leg mass play a determinant role in anaerobic performance and isokinetic knee strength was found to be an important factor in anaerobic performance of American football players.