title: The relation between knee muscle strength and performance tests in orienteering athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of knee muscle strength on performance tests in orienteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven orienteers were voluntarily included in this study. Isokinetic knee flexor and extensor muscles' strength was assessed at 120°/s velocity for both "dominant leg" (DL) and "non-dominant leg" (NDL). "Single-legged hop test" (SLHT), "flamingo balance test" (FBT), "star excursion balance test" (SEBT), vertical jump-and-reach test (for anaerobic power), T-drill test and 20-meter shuttle run test (for aerobic power) were carried out. Correlation and regression analyses were performed on the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VO2max levels showed moderate correlations with DL's "flexor peak torque" (FPT) and NDL's "extensor peak torque" (EPT) and FPT values respectively (r=0.49, r=0.38, r=0.58). FPT of NDL was a predictor of VO2max level (R2=0.33). Anaerobic power has a relationship with EPT of NDL (r=0.43) and T-drill test with EPT and FPT values of both DL and NDL respectively (r=-0.35, r=-0.63, r=-0.53, r=-0.58). EPT of NDL was a predictor for anaerobic power (R2=0.19) and FPT of DL for agility (R2=0.40). Nonparametric linear regression results showed that EPT is a predictor in DL (median slope=-0.71, P=0.01), and FPT in NDL (median slope=-0.90, P=0.006) for FBT. FPT was a predictor of SEBT scores for both legs (0.13<R2<0.27) except for posterolateral direction in NDL. For SLHT, EPT was determiner in DL (R2=0.21), FPT was determiner in NDL (R2=0.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluation and improvement of knee flexor and extensor muscle strength are of importance to improve orienteering performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Çankırı Karatekin University, Çankırı, Turkey - ozgecinar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Özge
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Çinar-Medeni
authors.forename: Fatma F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Colakoglu
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yüce
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ipekoğlu
authors.forename: Gul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baltaci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult