Jump height alone misses quadriceps strength decline in women’s soccer players, study finds
An in-season study of 18 semi-professional women soccer players found knee-extensor strength fell 4.6%, even though jump-height measures did not show the decline. The authors said isokinetic tests may add useful information, and limb differences should be checked repeatedly.
Researchers tracked 18 senior semi-professional women soccer players at the start, middle and end of the season’s second half. Peak knee-extensor strength at 60 degrees per second fell 4.6%, while knee-flexor strength did not change. No bilateral jump measure changed after statistical adjustment, and squat and countermovement jump height alone did not detect the strength decline.1
For coaches, relying on jump height alone could miss a decline in knee-extensor strength. The authors said isokinetic strength tests may complement in-season jump testing. They recommended checking differences between limbs repeatedly rather than relying on one assessment.1
