Hamstring/Quadriceps Ratio in CrossFit (HQCROSS)

Evaluation of Isometric Strength and Hamstring/Quadriceps Ratio in Healthy CrossFit Subjects

Crossfit® is a high-intensity physical training plan based on a program that includes exercises such as running, weight lifting and gymnastic movements. It focuses on the development of 10 physical qualities: strength, balance, cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, coordination, power, flexibility, agility, speed, precision and muscular endurance.Unfortunately, research on its effects is still at the beginning. The time of each session is one hour, which is divided into a warm-up of 10-30 minutes, strength training or skills, endurance work and finally a recovery phase, mobility and stretching. These types of exercises are incorporated into group training sessions called Workout of The Day (WOD).

Muscular strength is the action produced by a muscle or muscle group against resistance. It is one of the fundamental physical qualities for activities of daily living.

Digital isometric dynamometry is a tool to evaluate maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC).

Hamstring muscles are responsible for hip extension and knee flexion. Moreover, they are the main protectors against anterior knee subluxation due to their action in conjunction with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).The quadriceps is one of the largest and most powerful muscles of the human body.

The ratio between hamstrings and quadriceps muscles has a strong correlation with lower limb injuries. This ratio, known as "H:Q" has proved to be the most reliable indicator to quantify a neuromuscular decompensation that causes an injury and, in addition, it is used as a prognostic indicator.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Healthy Volunteers
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Hamstrings maximal voluntary isometric contraction.; Other: Quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric contraction

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 60

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Argentina
  • Caba
    • Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, Caba, Argentina, 1405
      • Maimonides University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 40 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of regular members of Tuluka Fitness Palermo, of both sex between 20 and 40 years of age, who have been training for more than 1 year on a recreational basis.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Regular members of Tuluka Fitness Palermo.
• With at least 1 year of Crossfit training.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with a history of knee surgery.
• Who have any type of musculoskeletal injury to the dominant lower limb.
• Who suffer from neurological disorders.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Female CrossFitters; Crossfit practitioners born as female	Other: Hamstrings maximal voluntary isometric contraction.; Hamstrings maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) will be measured with an isometric dynamometer (3 reps x 5 sec work x 10 sec rest). The best rep will be used. Whenever the third one was the best, additional measurements will be taken until a decrease in torque will be obtained to determine the maximum.; Other: Quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric contraction; Quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) will be measured with an isometric dynamometer (3 reps x 5 sec work x 10 sec rest). The best rep will be used. Whenever the third one was the best, additional measurements will be taken until a decrease in torque will be obtained to determine the maximum.
Male CrossFitters; Crossfit practitioners born as male	Other: Hamstrings maximal voluntary isometric contraction.; Hamstrings maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) will be measured with an isometric dynamometer (3 reps x 5 sec work x 10 sec rest). The best rep will be used. Whenever the third one was the best, additional measurements will be taken until a decrease in torque will be obtained to determine the maximum.; Other: Quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric contraction; Quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) will be measured with an isometric dynamometer (3 reps x 5 sec work x 10 sec rest). The best rep will be used. Whenever the third one was the best, additional measurements will be taken until a decrease in torque will be obtained to determine the maximum.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hamstrings maximal voluntary isometric contraction	Hamstrings force generated by the patient during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction, measured by an isometric dynamometer with load cell and computer interface. The best of the 3 repetitions will be considered. Whenever the third one is the best, additional measurements will be taken until a decrease in torque is obtained in order to determine the maximum. Unit: Newtons	Day 1
Quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric contraction.	Quadriceps force generated by the patient during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction, measured by an isometric dynamometer with load cell and computer interface. The best of the 3 repetitions will be considered. Whenever the third one was the best, additional measurements will be taken until a decrease in torque is obtained in order to determine the maximum. Unit: Newtons	Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hamstring / Quadriceps Ratio	The ratio between hamstrings and quadriceps muscles has a strong correlation with lower limb injuries. This ratio, known as "H:Q" has proved to be the most reliable indicator to quantify a neuromuscular decompensation that causes an injury and, in addition, it is used as a prognostic indicator. Minimum value: -1 Maximum value: 1 A value below 0.6 indicates risk of injury.	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Camila Velo Etcheverry

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ANTICIPATED): August 22, 2022
• Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED): November 1, 2022
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): December 20, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 11, 2022
• First Posted (ACTUAL): August 15, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): August 15, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 11, 2022
• Last Verified: August 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Healthy Volunteers; Muscle Strength; Muscle Strength Dynamometer; Young Adult; Hamstring Muscles; Quadriceps Muscles; Isometric Contraction; Human physical conditioning
• Other Study ID Numbers: 5738

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No