scholarly journals A Comparison of the Isometric Midthigh Pull and Isometric Squat: Intraday Reliability, Usefulness, and the Magnitude of Difference Between Tests

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 844-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire J. Brady ◽  
Andrew J. Harrison ◽  
Eamonn P. Flanagan ◽  
G. Gregory Haff ◽  
Thomas M. Comyns

Purpose: To examine the reliability and usefulness of the isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) and isometric squat (ISqT) performed at the same knee and hip angles. The scores produced in each test were compared to determine the magnitude of differences between tests. Methods: Twenty-six male and female athletes (age, 23.6 [4.3] y; height, 1.75 [0.07] m; and body mass, 68.8 [9.7] kg) performed 2 maximal repetitions of the IMTP and ISqT following a specific warm-up. Results: Maximum force, absolute peak force (PF), relative PF, allometrically scaled PF, rate of force development (0–200 and 0–250 ms), and impulse (0–300 ms) were deemed reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] ≥.86 and coefficient of variation [CV] ≤9.4%) in the IMTP and ISqT based on predetermined criteria (ICC ≥.8 and CV ≤10%). Impulse (0–200 and 0–250 ms) was reliable in the ISqT (ICC ≥.92 and CV ≤9.9%). Participants produced significantly (P < .05) greater PF and impulse (0–300 ms) during the ISqT compared with the IMTP. When split by sex, female participants produced significantly greater PF (P = .042) during the ISqT, with no significant differences among male participants (P = .245). Both tests are capable of detecting changes in performance in maximum force and absolute PF. Conclusions: Both tests are reliable for non-time-dependent maximal strength measures when measured at the same knee and hip angles. The ISqT may be preferred when coaches want to test an athlete’s true maximum lower-limb strength, especially female athletes.

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 1200-1204
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Comyns ◽  
Eamonn P. Flanagan ◽  
Sean Fleming ◽  
Evan Fitzgerald ◽  
Damian J. Harper

Purpose: To examine the interday reliability and usefulness of a reactive strength index (RSI) derived from a maximal 5-rebound jump test (5max RJT) and a maximal 10-rebound jump test (10/5 RJT). Methods: Twenty male field-sport athletes (24.5 [3.0] y, 1.78 [0.1] m, 84.9 [5.2] kg) and 15 female participants (21.1 [0.9] y, 1.65 [0.73] m, 62.0 [5.1] kg) performed 2 maximal repetitions of the 5max RJT and the 10/5 RJT on 2 testing days after a specific warm-up. A 1-wk period separated testing days, and these sessions were preceded by a familiarization session. RSI was calculated by dividing jump height (in meters) by contact time (in seconds). The 5max RJT and the 10/5 RJT trial with the highest RSI on each testing day were used for reliability and usefulness analysis. Results: Both tests were deemed reliable for determining RSI for male, female, and pooled male and female cohorts, as the intraclass correlation coefficients were ≥.80 and the coefficient of variation was ≤10%. Only the 5max RJT was rated as “good” at detecting the smallest worthwhile change in performance for female athletes (smallest worthwhile change: 0.10 > typical error: 0.07). The 5max RJT for men and the 10/5 RJT for men and women were rated “good” in detecting a moderate change in performance only. Conclusions: Both tests are reliable for the determination of RSI, but the usefulness of the tests in detecting the smallest worthwhile change is questionable.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1043-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Boullosa ◽  
César C.C. Abad ◽  
Valter P. Reis ◽  
Victor Fernandes ◽  
Claudio Castilho ◽  
...  

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of drop jumps (DJs) on performance time and pacing in a field test (ie, 1000 m) commonly used to evaluate endurance runners and to evaluate running and jumping performance in male and female athletes separately. Methods: Twenty elite endurance runners (male, n = 10, 27.8 [7.0] y, 62.3 [5.2] kg; female, n = 10, 25.9 [5.3] y, 51.7 [4.1] kg) competing in middle- and long-distance events participated in this study. After determination of the box height associated with the best reactive strength index, athletes randomly performed a warm-up with or without the inclusion of 5 DJs with the highest reactive strength index prior to a 1000-m track test. Performance time and pacing (250-m splits) were determined. Countermovement-jump heights at different time points and blood lactate concentration after running tests were also recorded. Results: A “possible” faster 1000-m time (162.4 vs 165.3 s) with a “very likely” faster first split (38.8 vs 40.3 s) was observed in male athletes in the DJ condition. In contrast, female athletes showed a “possible” slower running time (186.8 vs 184.8 s) and a “likely” greater blood lactate concentration after the 1000-m test in the DJ condition. Male and female athletes presented greater countermovement-jump performances after warm-up and running tests in both conditions. Conclusions: The inclusion of 5 DJs with the height associated with the best reactive strength index induced a “possible” improvement in 1000-m performance time in elite male endurance runners. The current protocol should be avoided in female athletes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annabelle King ◽  
Mark Hancock ◽  
Joanne Munn

Context:Functional strength measures correlate more closely with functional performance than non-functional strength measures.Objectives:To determine the reliability of the lateral step test as a measure of maximal strength.Design:Intertester repeated measures.Setting:Research laboratory.Participants:Twenty four healthy, pain free subjects.Intervention:Two protocols (A and B) were evaluated. The protocols were identical except protocol B involved a three second pause. Participants performed a one repetition maximum (1RM) for each protocol on two occasions separated by one week.Main Outcome Measures:Step height (nearest cm) representingResults:Both protocols demonstrated excellent reliability, protocol A: ICC = 0.94 (95% CI, 0.87 to 0.97), SEM = 1.47 cm. Protocol B: ICC= 0.94 (95%CI, 0.85 to 0.97).Percent close agreement within 2 cm was 83.3% for protocol A and 79.1% for protocol B.Conclusion:Both protocols demonstrated excellent inter-tester reliability as measures of functional lower limb strength.


Author(s):  
E M Owens ◽  
A J Serrano ◽  
M W Ramsey ◽  
S Mizuguchi ◽  
B Johnston ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Bailey ◽  
Kimitake Sato ◽  
Angus Burnett ◽  
Michael H. Stone

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the existence of bilateral strength and force-production asymmetry and evaluate possible differences based on sex, as well as strength level. Asymmetry was assessed during weight-distribution (WtD) testing, unloaded and lightly loaded static- (SJ) and countermovement-jump (CMJ) testing, and isometric midthigh-pull (IMTP) strength testing. Subjects included 63 athletes (31 male, 32 female) for WtD, SJ, and CMJ tests, while 129 athletes (64 male, 65 female) participated in IMTP testing. Independent-samples t tests were used to determine possible differences in asymmetry magnitude between males and females, as well as between strong and weak athletes. Cohen d effect-size (ES) estimates were also used to estimate difference magnitudes. Statistically different asymmetry levels with moderate to strong ESs were seen between males and females in WtD, 0-kg SJ (peak force [PF]), 20-kg SJ (peak power [PP]), 0-kg CMJ (PF, PP, net impulse), and 20-kg CMJ (PF), but no statistical differences were observed in IMTP variables. Dividing the sample into strong and weak groups produced statistically significant differences with strong ES estimates in IMTP PF and rate of force development, and many ESs in jump symmetry variables increased. The results of this investigation indicate that females may be more prone to producing forces asymmetrically than males during WtD and jumping tasks. Similarly, weaker athletes displayed more asymmetry than stronger athletes. This may indicate that absolute strength may play a larger role in influencing asymmetry magnitude than sex.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Borges ◽  
M Lemos Pires ◽  
R Pinto ◽  
G De Sa ◽  
I Ricardo ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Exercise prescription is one of the main components of phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) programs due to its documented prognostic benefits. It has been well established that, when added to aerobic training, resistance training (RT) leads to greater improvements in peripheral muscle strength and muscle mass in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). With COVID-19, most centre-based CR programs had to be suspended and CR patients had to readjust their RT program to a home-based model where weight training was more difficult to perform. How COVID-19 Era impacted lean mass and muscle strength in trained CVD patients who were attending long-term CR programs has yet to be discussed. Purpose To assess upper and lower limb muscle strength and lean mass in CVD patients who had their centre-based CR program suspended due to COVID-19 and compare it with previous assessments. Methods 87 CVD patients (mean age 62.9 ± 9.1, 82.8% male), before COVID-19, were attending a phase III centre-based CR program 3x/week and were evaluated annually. After 7 months of suspension, 57.5% (n = 50) patients returned to the face-to-face CR program. Despite all constraints caused by COVID-19, body composition and muscle strength of 35 participants (mean age 64.7 ± 7.9, 88.6% male) were assessed. We compared this assessment with previous years and established three assessment time points: M1) one year before COVID-19 (2018); M2) last assessment before COVID-19 (2019); M3) the assessment 7 months after CR program suspension (last trimester of 2020). Upper limbs strength was measured using a JAMAR dynamometer, 30 second chair stand test (number of repetitions – reps) was used to measure lower limbs strength and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure upper and lower limbs lean mass. Repeated measures ANOVA were used. Results Intention to treat analysis showed that upper and lower limbs lean mass did not change from M1 to M2 but decreased significantly from M2 to M3 (arms lean mass in M2: 5.68 ± 1.00kg vs M3: 5.52 ± 1.06kg, p = 0.004; legs lean mass in M2: 17.40 ± 2.46kg vs M3: 16.77 ± 2.61kg, p = 0.040). Lower limb strength also decreased significantly from M2 to M3 (M2: 23.31 ± 5.76 reps vs M3: 21.11 ± 5.31 reps, p = 0.014) after remaining stable in the year prior to COVID-19. Upper limb strength improved significantly from M1 to M2 (M1: 39.00 ± 8.64kg vs M2: 40.53 ± 8.77kg, p = 0.034) but did not change significantly from M2 to M3 (M2 vs M3: 41.29 ± 9.13kg, p = 0.517). Conclusion After CR centre-based suspension due to COVID-19, we observed a decrease in upper and lower limbs lean mass and lower limb strength in previously trained CVD patients. These results should emphasize the need to promote all efforts to maintain physical activity and RT through alternative effective home-based CR programs when face-to-face models are not available or possible to be implemented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Conor McNeill ◽  
C. Martyn Beaven ◽  
Daniel T. McMaster ◽  
Nicholas Gill

Eccentric strength characteristics have been shown to be important factors in physical performance. Many eccentric tests have been performed in isolation or with supramaximal loading. The purpose of this study was to investigate within- and between- session reliability of an incremental eccentric back squat protocol. Force plates and a linear position transducer captured force-time-displacement data across six loading conditions, separated by at least seven days. The reliability of eccentric specific measurements was assessed using coefficient of variation (CV), change in mean, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Eccentric peak force demonstrated good ICC (≥0.82) and TE (≤7.3%) for each load. Variables based on mean data were generally less reliable (e.g., mean rate of force development, mean force, mean velocity). This novel protocol meets acceptable levels of reliability for different eccentric-specific measurements although the extent to which these variables affect dynamic performance requires further research.


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