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Strength and power assessment. Issues, controversies and challenges
P Abernethy1, G Wilson, P Logan
1Department of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Assessing athletic strength and power is complex due to limited research and dynamometry issues. Further research is needed to correlate strength and power measures with athletic performance for better talent identification.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Athletic strength and power are crucial for sporting performance, but their assessment is challenging.
- Current research on underlying mechanisms and dynamometry limitations hinders accurate evaluation.
- Existing assessment methods like isometric, isoinertial, and isokinetic dynamometry have varying strengths and weaknesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a framework for collecting data to guide recommendations for strength and power assessment in sports.
- To highlight the need for improved understanding of physiological mechanisms, training effects, and dynamometry validity/reliability.
- To identify research gaps, particularly in correlating strength/power measures with athletic performance and talent identification.
Main Methods:
- Review of current dynamometry techniques: isometric, isoinertial, and isokinetic.
- Discussion of factors influencing the validity and reliability of these assessment methods.
- Identification of research needs concerning the relationship between strength/power measures and athletic performance.
Main Results:
- Each dynamometry type (isometric, isoinertial, isokinetic) presents unique challenges regarding validity and reliability.
- Reliability of all modalities can be compromised by factors such as instructions, task specifics, and feedback.
- Limited research exists on the correlation between strength/power measures and athletic performance, especially in homogeneous groups.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive framework for strength and power assessment requires synergistic advancements in understanding physiological mechanisms, training impacts, and dynamometry properties.
- Further research is essential to establish the validity and reliability of different assessment tools and protocols.
- More investigation into the relationship between strength/power metrics and actual athletic performance is critical for effective talent identification and training program design.