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Trunk strength and endurance testing in field-athletes: A reliability study.
Thomas A Dekkers1, Catherine Blake2, Kieran D Collins3
1Gaelic Sports Research Centre, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
Summary
Assessing athletic trunk strength and endurance requires reliable field tests. Hand-held dynamometer tests for strength and specific endurance tests show good to excellent reliability for athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Trunk muscles are crucial for athletic performance and injury prevention.
- Standardized field assessment methods for trunk strength and endurance are lacking in athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the intra-rater reliability of various trunk strength and endurance tests in male field athletes.
- To identify reliable field-based assessments for athletic trunk function.
Main Methods:
- A test-retest reliability design was employed.
- Isometric trunk strength was measured using a hand-held dynamometer (HHD).
- Trunk endurance was assessed via the McGill protocol and novel long-lever tests.
Main Results:
- Hand-held dynamometer strength tests demonstrated good to excellent relative reliability (ICC = 0.70-0.91).
- The McGill protocol for endurance showed excellent reliability (ICC = 0.80-0.89).
- Long-lever endurance tests exhibited moderate to excellent reliability (ICC = 0.57-0.96), though V-Sit and lateral flexion tests had lower absolute reliability.
Conclusions:
- Hand-held dynamometers are reliable for assessing isometric trunk strength (flexion, extension, rotation).
- The Biering-Sørenson, long-lever lateral flexion, and flexion tests are recommended for reliable trunk endurance assessment in athletes.
