Reliability of lsokinetic Muscle Endurance Tests

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Assessing muscle endurance is crucial for rehabilitation and performance.
• The Cybex II dynamometer is commonly used for strength and endurance testing.
• Reliability of different measurement methods needs validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the test-retest reliability of two quadriceps endurance measurement methods.
• To compare the reliability of the work ratio and the number of contractions for assessing endurance.
• To assess the reliability of the work ratio for hamstring endurance.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-six healthy adults underwent two testing sessions on separate days.
• Quadriceps and hamstring endurance were measured using the Cybex II at 180°/sec and 240°/sec.
• Two endurance measures were used: work ratio and number of contractions to 50% peak torque.

Main Results:

• Peak torque, absolute work, and average power demonstrated higher reliability than endurance measures.
• The number of contractions was found to be more reliable for measuring muscle endurance than the work ratio.
• The work ratio showed lower reliability for both quadriceps and hamstring endurance.

Conclusions:

• The number of contractions is a more reliable indicator of quadriceps muscle endurance compared to the work ratio.
• The work ratio may not be a reliable method for assessing muscle endurance, particularly in rehabilitation settings.
• Further research may be needed to establish reliable methods for dynamic muscle endurance assessment.