Comparison of Muscle Mechanical Properties in Female Athletes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of muscles in female athletes from different sports disciplines. The research was designed as a cross-sectional study, and a total of 58 female athletes, including football (n = 28) and basketball (n = 30) players, with a mean age of 20.63 ± 2.55 years, voluntarily participated. Initially, participants’ height and body weight were measured, followed by assessment of the mechanical properties of the dominant vastus medialis muscle using the MyotonPro device. Muscle characteristics were evaluated in terms of tone (F), stiffness (S), elasticity (D), relaxation time (R), and viscoelasticity (C). Between-group comparisons were analyzed using independent samples t-tests in SPSS 25 (p<0.05). The results showed that female football players had higher F and S values compared to basketball players, whereas basketball players exhibited higher R and C values (p <0.05). No significant differences were observed between groups in the D parameter (p> 0.05). The findings indicate that football players have greater muscle tone and stiffness, while basketball players demonstrate more elastic muscle properties. These differences can be attributed to sport-specific training regimens and patterns of muscle-tendon loading. The results highlight the critical importance of muscle mechanical properties for individualizing training programs, improving performance, and reducing the risk of injury.

Keywords

• Female athletes
• muscle mechanical properties
• MyotonPRO

KADIN SPORCULARDA KAS MEKANİK ÖZELLİKLERİN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI

Abstract

Bu araştırmanın amacı, farklı spor branşlarında yer alan kadın sporcuların kas mekanik özelliklerinin karşılaştırılmasıdır. Araştırma kesitsel bir modelde tasarlanmış olup, ortalama yaşları 20,63 ± 2,55 yıl olan futbol (n=28) ve basketbol (n=30) branşlarından toplam 58 kadın sporcu gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Katılımcıların ilk olarak boy ve vücut ağırlığı ölçümleri alınmış, ardından baskın taraftaki vastus medialis kasının mekanik özellikleri MyotonPro cihazı ile ölçülmüş ve tonus (F), sertlik (S), elastikiyet (D), gevşeme süresi (R) ile viskoelastikiyet (C) parametrelerinde değerlendirilmiştir. Gruplar arası arasındaki ilişki SPSS 25 yazılımı ile bağımsız örneklem t-testi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir (p<0,05). Bulgular, kadın futbolcuların F ve S parametrelerinde basketbolculara göre daha yüksek değer elde edilirken, basketbolcularda ise R ve C parametrelerinin daha yüksek olduğunu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır (p<0,05). D parametresinde gruplar arası anlamlı bir fark gözlenmemiştir (p>0,05). Araştırma sonuçları, futbolcuların daha yüksek tonusa ve sert kas yapısına sahip olduğu, basketbolcuların ise kas yapılarının daha elastik özellikler gösterdiği sonucu ortaya çıkmıştır. Elde edilen farklılıklar, branşa özgü antrenman düzeni ve kas-tendon yüklenme biçimleri ile açıklanabilir. Bu sonuçlar, kas mekanik özelliklerinin, antrenman programlarının bireyselleştirilmesi, performansın iyileştirilmesi ve yaralanma riskinin azaltılması açısından kritik öneme sahip olduğunu ortaya çıkarmıştır.

Keywords

• : Kadın sporcular
• kas mekanik özellikleri
• MyotonPRO

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