Ratio of Hamstring to Quadriceps Strength in Female Collegiate Basketball Players in Relation to the Performance of 10 Meter Sprint and Vertical Jump: A Pilot Study

Introduction: The conventional hamstring to quadriceps (H:Q) ratio is derived from concentric peak torque of the hamstring during flexion versus the concentric peak torque of the quadriceps during extension. The H:Q ratio is often used in sport performance and rehabilitation to measure strength properties of the muscles and to detect muscle imbalances. Researchers have identified H:Q ratios that can increase the risk of lower extremity injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and hamstring injuries. Recently, research has begun to examine the relationship between vertical jump measures and sprint speed over 10, 20, and 40 meters (m) in professional basketball players. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between isokinetic strength (H:Q isokinetic ratio) and selected performance metrics associated with competitive basketball (10 m sprint and countermovement jump). Methods: Eight subjects were selected from a NCAA Division III intercollegiate women’s basketball program (mean ± SD: age, height, weight, years played = 20.10 years ± 1.13 years, 1.74 m ± 0.10 m, 75.49 kg ± 15.27 kg, and 11.06 years ± 2.34, respectively). They completed one session containing the following assessments: vertical jump, 10 m sprint, and lower extremity isokinetic dynamometry. Results: The mean and standard deviations for the performance tests include vertical jump at 0.30 ± 0.06 m and 10 m sprint at 1.83 ± 0.17 sec. The average H:Q ratio was 59.83 ± 9.42 for all speeds. No correlations were found to be significant. However, 10 m sprint was found to be positively correlated and vertical jump to be negatively correlated with H:Q ratio. Conclusion: In this study there was a positive correlation found between H:Q ratios and sprinting while a negative correlation was found with jumping. Apart from these findings, the results suggested that using isokinetic testing is not a recommended method to evaluate athletic performance in Division III female collegiate basketball players.