Comparison of agility, speed, and power level between male junior high school students having normal/abnormal toe-out in Birjand in 2007

Musculoskeletal abnormalities are among the factors affecting on physical activities. The aim of this study was to compare degree of agility, speed, and power between 3 groups of male junior high school students having unnatural out-toeing (i.e. two groups, one with 16-23 degrees and one with 0-6 degrees) and one natural group (7-15 degrees of out-toeing). The subjects of the study were 300 students (12-14 years old) whose height, weight, and angle of toe-out were initially measured using foot-print technique. Firstly, 30 students with normal toe-out were chosen; then, two other groups (30 members in each) were identified applying isometry in terms of age, height, and weight. To measure agility, speed and power, 4×9 m shuttle-run, 46 m running and standing long-jump test were used, respectively. In order to analyze the obtained data ANOVA statistical test was applied using SPSS software and α=0.05 was taken as the significant level. The results showed that mean power and agility in the group with normal/natural out-toeing was higher than that of the other two groups but the difference was not statistically significant (P<0.05). Besides, findings of the study indicated that “speed” was significantly different in the three groups (P=0.02). Toki test results indicated that the observed difference in the mean speed alone in the two groups (natural and unnatural; 16-23 degrees) was significant (P=0.012). The results showed that the speed of the subjects in the angle of out-toeing had a decrease of more than 15 degrees. Regarding the obtained results it could be concluded that having natural out-toeing is an important factor in students’ speed, though it is not as important in power and agility.