Isokinetic strength and anaerobic/intermittent capacity of Japanese lacrosse players

We investigated and compared isokinetic strength, anaerobic and intermittent capacity of men's lacrosse players at various playing positions. The subjects were 33 men's lacrosse players (attacker; ATn=11, defender; DFn=10, midfielder; MFn=12). Measurements contained physical characteristics, isokinetic strength, anaerobic capacity (maximal anaerobic power; Pmax, Wingate anaerobic power; WAnP), and 10-s (R10IC) and 20-s (R20IC) rest intervals of intermittent capacity. Knee flexor strength at angular velocities of 60°/s and 180°/s was significantly greater in DF players than in AT players (p < 0.05), 300°/s was significantly higher in MF players than in AT players (p <0.05). With regard to Pmax, MF players showed significantly higher values compared with AT players (p < 0.05), and WAnP of MF players showed significantly higher values compared with that of AT and DF players (AT; p < 0.01, DF; p < 0.05). R10IC was significantly higher in MF players than in both AT and DF players (AT: p < 0.05, DF: p < 0.05), whereas R20IC was significantly higher in MF players than in AT players (p< 0.05). These results indicate that knee flexor strength, anaerobic capacity, and intermittent capacity are greater in μF than the other positions in men's lacrosse.