Reproducibility of an isokinetic eccentric muscle endurance task (original) (raw)

Test-retest reliability of an isokinetic muscle endurance test

Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of an isokinetic muscle endurance test. The right legs of twelve healthy males were tested on the Cybex Norm isokinetic dynamometer. The protocol consisted of 40 consecutive concentric knee extensions and flexions, performed maximally at an angular velocity of 120 • /s. The subjects performed the test twice, five days apart. Total work, endurance ratio, 50% fatigue work, 50% fatigue time and 50% fatigue repetitions were obtained. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures was used to examine the differences between test and retest values. The reliability coefficient was also established using the ANOVA results. The results indicated that measurements demonstrated high reliability (r > 0.819). It could be concluded that the protocol used in the present study can be used to evaluate muscle endurance.

Reliability of an Isokinetic Test of Muscle Strength and Endurance

Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 1989

The reliability of an isokinetic test of muscle strength and endurance was evaluated. Eleven males and 9 females underwent testing on three separate occasions, 2-4 days apart. The protocol included a velocity spectrum test (VST-5 repetitions at velocities ranging from 90-330°/sec) and a muscle endurance test (number of contractions performed in 45 sec at 180°/sec). In the VST, no significant within-subject test day differences were noted at any velocity. Reliability was generally higher at slower velocities and higher for knee extension than flexion. Mean intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for peak torque across velocities were 0.88 for extension and 0.79 for flexion. For the endurance test, two reliable measures were total work performed and average power (ICCs = 0.92); relative endurance measures had ICCs of less than 0.80. Thresholds for demonstrating experimental effects and the number of subjects to test at different detection levels are-recommended.

Reliability of an Isokinetic Test of Muscle Strength and Endurance 1

Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 1989

The reliability of an isokinetic test of muscle strength and endurance was evaluated. Eleven males and 9 females underwent testing on three separate occasions, 2-4 days apart. The protocol included a velocity spectrum test (VST-5 repetitions at velocities ranging from 90-330°/sec) and a muscle endurance test (number of contractions performed in 45 sec at 180°/sec). In the VST, no significant within-subject test day differences were noted at any velocity. Reliability was generally higher at slower velocities and higher for knee extension than flexion. Mean intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for peak torque across velocities were 0.88 for extension and 0.79 for flexion. For the endurance test, two reliable measures were total work performed and average power (ICCs = 0.92); relative endurance measures had ICCs of less than 0.80. Thresholds for demonstrating experimental effects and the number of subjects to test at different detection levels are-recommended.

Effect of isotonic and isometric knee extension exercises on mechanical and electromyographical specificity of fatigue

Isokinetics and Exercise Science

Effect of isotonic and isometric knee extension exercises on mechanical and electromyographical specificity of fatigue. Isokinetics and Exercise Science , 10:167-175 ***Note: Figures may be missing from this format of the document Abstract.: This study investigated the effects of isotonic and isometric knee extension exercises on strength, power, and surface EMG in male and female populations. Using the knee extensors, ten males and ten females performed a 120 s MVIC and 120 maximal isotonic contractions. Prior to each exercise (t = pre) knee extensor isometric peak torque (strength) and average peak power (power) were tested utilizing three, 3 s MVIC's and three maximal isotonic contractions, respectively. Following each exercise, strength and power were assessed immediately after (t =: 00) and at 2.5 (t =: 02.5), 5 (t =: 05), 10 (t =: 10), and 15 (t =: 15) minutes. All strength and power measures were normalized to the respective t = pre value. Vastus lateralis surface EMG signals were collected during all muscle testing and normalized to the respective tire value. Following isometric exercise, both strength and power at t =: 00 (68.7% ± 8.7% & 88.0% ± 8.7%) and t =: 02.5 (82.2% ± 17.8% & 95.2% ± 5.0%) significantly decreased from t=pre (100% ± 0.0%) (p < 0.05) with greater decreases in strength at each time point (p < 0.05). EMG analysis revealed a significant EMG amplitude decrease (p < 0.05) at t =: 00 and t =: 02.5 during strength testing with respect to t=pre. Following isotonic exercise, both strength and power at t =: 00 (68.0% ± 13.2% & 38.8% ± 10.7%) and t =: 02.5 (84.5% ± 14.9% & 81.6% ± 14.5%) significantly decreased from t=pre (100% ± 0.0%) with a greater power decrease at t =: 00 (p < 0.05). The EMG amplitude of males was significantly less at t =: 00 than the respective EMG amplitude for females (p < 0.05) (irrespective of testing condition). We conclude that muscle performance in the fatigued state is dependent upon the type of exercise performed. Article: INTRODUCTION: During the past years of research addressing muscle performance during and following fatiguing exercise, the isometric contraction has been considered the gold standard of muscle force producing capability in the laboratory setting. The muscle force production values acquired from isometric contractions are often referred to as "strength" [11]. However in sporting activities the majority of muscle contractions are dynamic in nature. Power, a variable that takes into account contraction force and velocity, is important in sports that demand explosive movements. Throughout the remainder of this paper strength will refer to isometric torque production and power will refer to dynamic, maximal efforts of the muscle/joint complex.

Effects of Neuromuscular Fatigue on Eccentric Strength and Electromechanical Delay of the Knee Flexors: The Role of Training Status

Frontiers in Physiology

Purpose: To examine the effects of fatiguing isometric contractions on maximal eccentric strength and electromechanical delay (EMD) of the knee flexors in healthy young adults of different training status. Methods: Seventy-five male participants (27.7 ± 5.0 years) were enrolled in this study and allocated to three experimental groups according to their training status: athletes (ATH, n = 25), physically active adults (ACT, n = 25), and sedentary participants (SED, n = 25). The fatigue protocol comprised intermittent isometric knee flexions (6-s contraction, 4-s rest) at 60% of the maximum voluntary contraction until failure. Pre-and post-fatigue, maximal eccentric knee flexor strength and EMDs of the biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus muscles were assessed during maximal eccentric knee flexor actions at 60, 180, and 300°/s angular velocity. An analysis of covariance was computed with baseline (unfatigued) data included as a covariate. Results: Significant and large-sized main effects of group (p ≤ 0.017, 0.87 ≤ d ≤ 3.69) and/or angular velocity (p < 0.001, d = 1.81) were observed. Post hoc tests indicated that regardless of angular velocity, maximal eccentric knee flexor strength was lower and EMD was longer in SED compared with ATH and ACT (p ≤ 0.025, 0.76 ≤ d ≤ 1.82) and in ACT compared with ATH (p = ≤0.025, 0.76 ≤ d ≤ 1.82). Additionally, EMD at post-test was significantly longer at 300°/s compared with 60 and 180°/s (p < 0.001, 2.95 ≤ d ≤ 4.64) and at 180°/s compared with 60°/s (p < 0.001, d = 2.56), irrespective of training status. Conclusion: The main outcomes revealed significantly higher maximal eccentric strength and shorter eccentric EMDs of knee flexors in individuals with higher training status (i.e., athletes) following fatiguing exercises. Therefore, higher training status is associated with better neuromuscular functioning (i.e., strength, EMD) of the hamstring muscles in fatigued condition. Future longitudinal studies are needed to substantiate the clinical relevance of these findings.

Work and peak torque during eccentric exercise do not predict changes in markers of muscle damage

British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2008

Objectives: Large inter-subject variability in responses to eccentric exercise has been reported. This study investigated the hypothesis that the variability of changes in indirect markers of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) would be explained by work performed and/or torque generated during eccentric exercise. Methods: Subjects (n = 53) performed 60 maximal eccentric actions of the elbow flexors on an isokinetic dynamometer that forcibly extended the elbow joint from 60u to 180u at a constant velocity (90u s 21 ). Markers of EIMD included maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque at 90u elbow flexion (MVC), range of motion, plasma creatine kinase activity and muscle soreness. Measurements were taken 2 days before, immediately after and 1-4 days post-exercise. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to examine relationships between exercise parameters (total work, change in total work, torque produced during exercise, change in peak torque) and markers of EIMD. Results: Large inter-subject variability was evident for both work and torque during exercise, and changes in all markers of EIMD. Contrary to the hypothesis, total work (normalised for individual pre-exercise MVC) did not correlate significantly with any markers of EIMD, with the exception of MVC (r = 0.3). Total work performed and changes in total work showed higher correlations with some markers, but no r-values exceeded 0.4. Normalised exercise torque and the changes in peak torque during exercise were not correlated with changes in MVC, or other markers. Conclusion: These results suggest the large inter-subject variability in responses to eccentric exercise is not associated with work performed or torque generated during eccentric exercise.

Reliability of a Novel High Intensity One Leg Dynamic Exercise Protocol to Measure Muscle Endurance

PLOS ONE, 2016

We recently developed a high intensity one leg dynamic exercise (OLDE) protocol to measure muscle endurance and investigate the central and peripheral mechanisms of muscle fatigue. The aims of the present study were to establish the reliability of this novel protocol and describe the isokinetic muscle fatigue induced by high intensity OLDE and its recovery. Eight subjects performed the OLDE protocol (time to exhaustion test of the right leg at 85% of peak power output) three times over a week period. Isokinetic maximal voluntary contraction torque at 60 (MVC 60), 100 (MVC 100) and 140 (MVC 140) deg/s was measured preexercise, shortly after exhaustion (13 ± 4 s), 20 s (P20) and 40 s (P40) post-exercise. Electromyographic (EMG) signal was analyzed via the root mean square (RMS) for all three superficial knee extensors. Mean time to exhaustion was 5.96 ± 1.40 min, coefficient of variation was 8.42 ± 6.24%, typical error of measurement was 0.30 min and intraclass correlation was 0.795. MVC torque decreased shortly after exhaustion for all angular velocities (all P < 0.001). MVC 60 and MVC 100 recovered between P20 (P < 0.05) and exhaustion and then plateaued. MVC 140 recovered only at P40 (P < 0.05). High intensity OLDE did not alter maximal EMG RMS of the three superficial knee extensors during MVC. The results of this study demonstrate that this novel high intensity OLDE protocol could be reliably used to measure muscle endurance, and that muscle fatigue induced by high intensity OLDE should be examined within~30 s following exhaustion.

Methodological Differences in the Interpretation of Fatigue Data from Repeated Maximal Effort Knee Extensions

The Open Sports Sciences Journal, 2017

Background: Isokinetic fatigue protocols are commonly used in both research as well as in kinesiology education. However, fatigue quantification methods vary between studies. Objective: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine how fatigue quantification methods affect data interpretation and which methods may be most appropriate. Method: In this study, we quantified fatigue from a repeated maximal effort isokinetic knee extension test using different methods, as seen in published research. Nine healthy males and nine healthy females performed 50 concentric knee extensions at 180°•s-1. For each repetition, torque was quantified as either peak torque (PT), torque at the mid-point of the range of motion, and torque integrated over the full, middle 30° range of motion, and isokinetic range of motion. Fatigue Index was quantified using either the first and last three or five repetitions or the peak and last three or five repetitions. Torque slopes were quantified using all r...

Agonist and antagonist muscle activation during maximal and submaximal isokinetic fatigue tests of the knee extensors

Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in electromyographic activity of agonist and antagonist knee musculature between a maximal and a submaximal isokinetic fatigue protocol. Fourteen healthy males (age: 24.3 ± 2.5 years) performed 25 maximal (MIFP) and 60 submaximal (SIFP) isokinetic concentric efforts of the knee extensors at 60°s À1 , across a 90°range of motion. The two protocols were performed a week apart. The EMG activity of vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) were recorded using surface electrodes. The peak torque (PT) and average EMG (aEMG) were expressed as percentages of pre-fatigue maximal value. One-way analysis of variance indicated a significant (p < 0.05) decline of PT during the maximal (45.7%) and submaximal (46.8%) protocols. During the maximal test, the VM and VL aEMG initially increased and then decreased. In contrast, VM and VL aEMG continuously increased during submaximal testing (p < 0.05). The antagonist (BF) aEMG remained constant during maximal test but it increased significantly and then declined during the submaximal testing. The above results indicate that agonist and antagonist activity depends on the intensity of the selected isokinetic fatigue test.