The balance between agonist and antagonist muscles in the joints is of great relevance to clinical practice and to sports performance. Information about these parameters amongst Olympic and especially Paralympic athletes is scarce. The purpose of this study was to present the results of the isokinetic evaluation (Cybex 6000) of the Brazilian team that participated in the Sydney Paralympic Games. The flexor and extensor muscles of the knee were evaluated in 11 soccer players with cerebral palsy (age: 24.6 ± 4.8 years; weight: 67 ± 5.5 kg; height: 177.7 ± 3.8 cm) and in 12 basketball athletes with mental disability (age: 24.7 years; weight: 76.6 kg; height: 184.4 ± 10 cm); for the judo blind athletes (age: 29.8 ± 5.6 years; weight: 87 ± 21.6 kg; height: 171.5 ± 6.9 cm), the shoulder rotator muscles were tested. Findings show that the soccer players have a normal hamstring: quadriceps strength ratio despite the muscle weakness imposed by cerebral palsy. For the judo athletes, the ratio between external and internal rotators of the shoulder was within the normal range. The results for peak torque in the basketball players were similar to those of non-athletic individuals without disabilities. The values are presented in the article in order to be used as reference for the professionals involved in the area of disabled sports.
Anaerobic tests; Anaerobic power; Paralympic athletes
