Relationship between Bilateral and Unilateral Leg Extension Strength and Exercise Ability of Healthy Adult Men.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the features of bilateral and unilateral leg muscle strength, and suggest effective and efficient training methods for improving exercise ability using leg muscles for healthy male adults. [Subjects] The subjects were 28 healthy adult men. [Methods] We measured bilateral and unilateral isokinetic leg extension strength, height of vertical jump, distance of standing broad jump, number of repetition side steps and time taken for 30 full squats. [Results] Height of vertical jump, distance of standing broad jump and number of repetition side steps were significantly correlated with bilateral leg strength, leg strength of the dominant side used as the supporting leg, leg strength of non-dominant side used as the supporting leg, and the sum of the dominant leg strength and non-dominant leg strength. Squat time was significantly correlated with dominant leg strength and the sum of dominant leg strength and non-dominant leg strength. [Conclusion] These results suggest that different exercises require different leg-strengths, and an appropriate training method is necessary to raise exercise abilities effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]