Effect of the Perception of Knee Pain on Muscle Strength and Endurance among Elite Female Handball Players

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to examine the effect of knee pain perception on muscle strength and endurance among elite female handball players. Methods This study included 60 handball players who participated in training and competition from January to December 2019. Muscle strength, endurance, and hamstring/quadriceps ratio of the knee were estimated using Computer Sports Medicine, INC (Cybex, HUMAC, USA). The independent samples t-test was used for inter-group comparison. The Pearson's correlation and simple linear regression analyses were used to assess associations among the variables and identify factors affecting pain perception, respectively. Results No significant differences in knee muscle strength, endurance of both the flexor and extensor muscles, and muscle strength (hamstring/quadriceps ratio) were noted between the high and low groups. However, the ratio of muscle endurance of the flexor and extensor of the knee in the high group was significantly lower than that in the low group. Furthermore, pain was found to correlate only with muscle endurance (hamstring/quadriceps ratio). The pain scale reading increased by 1. Moreover, muscle endurance ratio of the flexor and extensor muscles of the knee decreased by 3.07. Conclusion Muscle endurance (hamstring/quadriceps ratio) of the flexor and extensor muscles, classified based on an average pain scale, differed between the high and low groups. These results can aid in development of rehabilitation and exercise programs for players involved in handball and similar sports in the future.