Muscle strength and flexibility in different positions of soccer players.

One-hundred eighty soccer players were tested for muscle strength in knee extension and knee flexion and for flexibility in the lower extremity. The strength measurements were done with a Cybex II isokinetic device (Lumex, Bay Shore, New York). The range of motion (ROM) was measured according to a method described by Ekstrand et al. (1982). The players were divided into groups according to their player position: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The results showed a significantly higher knee extensor torque in goalkeepers and defenders than in forwards (P less than 0.05). The knee flexion/knee extension ratio (H/Q ratio) was significantly higher for forwards compared to goalkeepers (P less than 0.001) and defenders (P less than 0.01). The goalkeepers were significantly more flexible than the other players in hip flexion (P less than 0.001), knee flexion (P less than 0.01), and ankle dorsiflexion (P less than 0.001).