The torque characteristics were determined for the ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors during concentric and eccentric contractions, at 45
$^{\circ}$
/s with the knee flexed 90
$^{\circ}$
, in 37 young healthy males aged 21 to 24 years. Mean maximum torque during concentric and eccentric contraction was
$32.8 \pm 5.5$
Nm and
$57.8 \pm 14.3$
Nm(ratio
$0.57$
) for the dorsiflexors, and
$86.3 \pm 26.8$
Nm and
$86.3 \pm 26.8$
Nm (ratio
$0.60$
) for the plantarflexors. The dorsiflexor/plantarflexor maximum torque ratio was 0.38 and 0.40 for concentric and eccentric contractions. The angle of maximum torque generation was
$17.4^{\circ} \pm 13.7^{\circ}$
and
$15.7^{\circ} \pm 12.2^{\circ}$
plantarflexion for the dorsiflexors working concentrically and eccentrically respectively. For the plantarflexors the respective angles were
$17.0^{\circ} \pm 9.6^{\circ}$
and
$23.3^{\circ} \pm 11.4^{\circ}$
plantarflexion: the difference in angle being significant(
$p<0.01$
). The torque characteristics presented in this study provide a standard against which muscle coordination can be determined and the planning of rehabilitation programs set.
