Introduction Explosive strength is determinant for high performance in sports. However each sport has its own specific characteristics which may affect power output. The main goal of this study was to compare explosive power output of the lower limbs in different sports. Methods For this purpose we used a sample of 46 athletes from elite national leagues (11 basketball players, 12 volleyball players and 23 soccer players). To determine maximum concentric force moments of knee extensors and flexors, each athlete performed 5 maximum knee extension / flexion movements of each leg in isokinetic dynamometer, at two different angular velocities (90º/sec. and 360ª/sec.), considering a range of motion (ROM) of 20º-90º. For peak torque analysis the values selected were correspondent to the maximum torque obtained in the group of repetitions on each of the angular speeds for each leg. All athletes also performed 3 maximum squat jumps and 3 maximum counter movement jumps on the force plate, in order to evaluate maximum explosive strength of the lower limbs. Results Results regarding isokinetic evaluation of Peak Torque (PT), Average Power (AP) and Peak Power (PP), as well as explosive strength evaluation of squat jump (SJ) and Counter movement jump (CMJ) are presented below in tables 1 and 2. Table 1. Mean and standard deviation (SD) values of peak torque, average power and peak power of agonist and antagonist muscles of the thigh at different angular speeds. Discussion/Conclusion Our results indicated the existence of statistically significant differences between Volleyball and soccer in all of the selected Isokinetic parameters, except for Average agonist power of the left leg at 360º/sec, Average antagonist power of the right leg at 90º/sec. and for Average antagonist power of the left leg at 360º/sec. No differences in isokinetic parameters were found between Basketball and Volleyball or between Basketball and Soccer. In regard to maximum explosive strength, there were significant differences in performance between sports, both in Squat jump and in counter movement jump. However when relating soccer and basketball in counter movement jump performance we found no significant differences. In conclusion we can safely state that in respect to maximum explosive power output there are significant performance differences between Volleyball and Soccer. Although results obtained from the analysis of maximum explosive strength indicate differences in jump performance between Basketball and Soccer players, these differences could not be confirmed trough isokinetic parameters.
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