This study was conducted to observe the isokinetic strength (IS) of the hip, ankle, and knee joints in young age groups. Thirty eight men and thirty one women with mean age of 30.4 ± 3.5 and 32.8 ± 4.4 years, respectively, were enrolled in this study. Measurements of hip flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction at 30° / sec, Knee flexion and extension at 60° / sec, ankle inversion, eversion, plantarflexion, and dorsiflexion 30° / sec were conducted. Absolute IS (Nm), relative IS (Nm/kg), strength ratios, correlations between movements were observed. Significant differences in absolute and relative strength were observed between groups in all movement except in the relative ankle strength. Relative isokinetic strength ratios of hip flexion/extension were .45 and .55, knee flexion/extension were .84 and .89, ankle dorsi/plantarflexion were .30 and .29, and ankle eversion/inversion were .86 and .84 for men and women, respectively. In the hip extension, men had about three times the body weight ,and women had about 2.5 times the strength. The abduction muscle had about 1.5 times the body weight of both men and women. Height and body weight showed the significantly strong correlating relationship with hip (r, .76-.86) and knee (r, .67-.84) strength. However, ankle strength showed the comparatively correlating relationship, especially in women (r, .03 - .36). Similar age and physique characteristics of female and male groups could provide useful isokinetic strength reference values for developing the exercise program for healthy and rehabilitation groups.

INTRODUCTION
 SUBJECTS AND METHODS
  Subjects
  Measurement Methods
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES

• Yong Hwan Kim(Seoul National University)
• Hae Mi Jee(Namseoul University)