True or False: The knee extensors in the quadriceps produce a torque about two-thirds greater than that of the knee flexors.

True or False: The knee extensors in the quadriceps produce a torque about two-thirds greater than that of the knee flexors.

• A. Not enough data
• B. True
• C. False
• D. N/A

Answer: (B)

Torque at the knee depends on how much force the muscles can produce and how favorable their moment arm is about the joint. The quadriceps are a large extensor group that crosses the knee, and their force is transmitted through the patellar tendon, which increases the extensor moment arm. This combination makes knee extension torque generally larger than knee flexion torque produced by the hamstrings. As a rule of thumb, the knee extensors generate about two-thirds more torque than the knee flexors, though the exact ratio shifts with knee angle, contraction type, and speed. Therefore, the statement is true because the extensor mechanism typically provides greater leverage and torque at the knee than the flexors.

Torque at the knee depends on how much force the muscles can produce and how favorable their moment arm is about the joint. The quadriceps are a large extensor group that crosses the knee, and their force is transmitted through the patellar tendon, which increases the extensor moment arm. This combination makes knee extension torque generally larger than knee flexion torque produced by the hamstrings. As a rule of thumb, the knee extensors generate about two-thirds more torque than the knee flexors, though the exact ratio shifts with knee angle, contraction type, and speed. Therefore, the statement is true because the extensor mechanism typically provides greater leverage and torque at the knee than the flexors.