The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate the stability of strength asymmetry over a long-term period (1 year) and investigate the relationship of strength asymmetry to field test performance asymmetry in NCAA division-1 athletes. Isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) peak force asymmetry, ground contact time and finish time asymmetries on 10m sprint and 505 agility test performances were also observed. The impact of strength was also investigated in these studies to determine its effect on the magnitude of asymmetry. In the second study, peak force asymmetry over a one-year period was observed to be a rather volatile quality, with ranges between 16% or 8%, depending on the formula used. Based on this finding, it is possible that there may be a “normal” range of asymmetry that an individual athlete exhibits that could be linked to training adaptations along with other factors. Based on simple observation, an individual tendency toward symmetry existed in certain athletes. This relationship may be useful to explore in future study.

Introduktion: Muskulära styrke- och uthållighetsteter är fysioterapeutiska bedömningsinstrument som används inom hjärtrehabilitering. I kliniken krävs uppdaterade normalvärden för de muskulära styrke- och uthålighetstesten samt värden på absolut reliabilitet (MDC) för att upptäcka avvikelser och avgöra kliniskt relevanta förändringar vid utvärdering av patientens prestationsförmåga.   Syfte: Att utvärdera test-retest reliabiliteten och ta fram normalvärden för muskulära styrke- och uthållighetstester.   Metod och material: Test-retest analysen bestod av två testtillfällen med 2-3 dagars mellanrum där 9 friska personer (6 kvinnor, 3 män) slutförde samtliga test (isometrisk armbågsflexion, isometrisk knäextension, isotonisk unilateral axelflexion och isotonsik unilateral tåhävning). Underlaget till normalvärdesanalysen bestod av insamlad data på 164 friska kontroller (61 kvinnor, 103 män) från tidigare studier.   Resultat: Den relativa reliabiliteten klassades som utmärkt för isometrisk armbågsflexion (ICC = 0,98), isometrisk knäextention (ICC = 0,97) samt isotonisk unilateral axelflexion (ICC = 0,98) och god för isotonisk unilateral tåhävning (ICC = 0,90). Mäns muskulära uthållighet var sämre jämfört med kvinnor vid test av isotonisk unilateral axelflexion. Ingen enlighet sågs i muskulär uthållighet mellan könen för isotonisk unilateral tåhävning. Kraftutvecklingen för män var större i båda isometriska tester jämfört med kvinnor. En skillnad sågs mellan olika åldersgrupper i isometrisk knäextension och isotonisk unilateral tåhävning. Ingen skillnad sågs mellan åldersgrupperna i övriga test.   Konklusion: Den relativa reliabiliteten för de muskulära styrke- och uthållighetstesten klassas vara god-utmärkt. Mer forskning behövs på större studiepopulationer där samtliga åldersgrupper representeras för att ta fram ett precist och stabilt underlag för normalvärden och absolut reliabilitet som kan representera och matcha standarden i den kliniska verksamheten.

Tyrimo tikslas – įvertinti liemens raumenų izometrinės jėgos, simetriškumo ir gyvenimo pilnatvės kaitą po taikytos stuburo stabilizavimo ir laikysenos korekcijos programos asmenims, kuriems diagnozuota juosmeninės stuburo dalies išvarža bei vargina lėtinis apatinės nugaros dalies skausmas. Uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti vyrų ir moterų, kuriuos vargina lėtinis apatinės nugaros dalies skausmas, nugaros, pilvo bei liemens šoninių raumenų izometrinės jėgos kaitą po taikytos kineziterapijos; 2. Įvertinti vyrų ir moterų nugaros-pilvo bei liemens šoninių raumenų izometrinės jėgos santykio kaitą po taikytos kineziterapijos; 3. Įvertinti vyrų ir moterų liemens raumenų statinės ištvermės, juosmens judesių amplitudės kaitą po taikytos kineziterapijos; 4. Nustatyti nugaros bei pilvo raumenų izometrinės jėgos ir apatinės nugaros dalies skausmo sąsajas prieš ir po taikytos kineziterapijos; 5. Įvertinti vyrų ir moterų apatinės nugaros dalies ir kojos skausmo, funkcinės negalios, gyvenimo pilnatvės bei bendros sveikatos būklės kaitą po taikytos kineziterapijos. Tyrime dalyvavo 17 darbingo amžiaus asmenų, 8 moterys ir 9 vyrai. Jiems radiologiškai diagnozuota juosmeninės stuburo dalies išvarža. Taikyta stuburo stabilizavimo ir laikysenos korekcijos pratimų programa 9 k., 3 k. per sav., po 45 min., individualiai. Vertinta: liemens raumenų maksimali izometrinė jėga (dr. Wolff „Back-check“ dinamometras), statinė ištvermė (sekundėmis), apatinės nugaros dalies ir kojos skausmas (SAS), funkcinė negalia... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the investigation – to evaluate changes in trunk muscles isometric strength, symmetry and quality of life under the impact of spine stabilization and posture correction exercises in patients with diagnosed intervertebral disk herniation and low back pain. The tasks of investigation: 1. To evaluate changes in back, abdominal and waist side muscles isometric strength after physical therapy applied in women and men with low back pain; 2. To evaluate changes in symmetry of the back-abdominal and waist side muscles isometric strength after physical therapy applied; 3. To evaluate changes in the muscles static endurance, lumbar movement amplitude after physical therapy applied; 4. To determine the correlation between back, abdominal muscles isometric strength and low back pain before and after physical therapy. 5. To evaluate changes of low back and leg pain, functional impairment, quality of life and common health condition of the patients after physical therapy applied in women and men. Methods and materials. There took part 17 working-age persons (8 women and 9 men) diagnosed with lumbar intervertebral disk herniation and low back pain in the investigation. They were applied spine stabilization and posture correction exercises program to - 9 times altogether, 3 times a week individually, 45 min. each. There were evaluated: trunk muscles isometric strength (Dr. Wolff “Back-check”), low back and leg pain (SAS), static endurance (in sec.), functional impairment... [to full text]

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Certain variables: peak aerobic power (PAP), running economy, and lactate threshold, act as limiting factors for endurance running. However, all of the mechanisms underlying high-level endurance running are not completely clear. Alterations in maximum and explosive strength P27 have been shown to effect positive changes in endurance performance, likely by altering P28 running economy. If strength related factors affect running economy, then this should be evident in the running performance of long-distance runners and perhaps PAP. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between peak isometric strength (IPF), explosive strength (rate of force development, RFD), PAP and 3 k performance (3KT) among 5 female and 7 male (n = 12) X-country runners. Force-time curve analysis was conducted for each (2 trials) isometric pull and averaged for analyses. IPF and RFD from 0 - 200 ms were determined from appropriate curves. IPFs were normalized using an allometric (IPFa) scaling equation: absolute force/ (body mass (kg)0.67). ICCs were previously shown to be > 0.9. Relationships were established with Pearson's r; statistical differences with at-Test (p < 0.05). !PF, IPFa and RFD were not different between sexes. PAP was statistically greater in males. Correlations were: PAP vs 3KT (r = -0.92); !PF vs PAP (r = 0.58), 3KT (r = -0.66); IPFa vs PAP (r = 0.45), 3KT (r = 0.45). RFD vs PAP (r = 0.58), 3KT (r = -0.65). Results indicate that strength characteristics correlate moderately to strongly with PAP and 3KT. Data suggests that strong.

Explosive strength, a function of rate of force development (RFD), is a primary determinant for the amount of peak force that can be produced in critical sport performance time periods ( e.g. foot contact time). Evidence indicates that maximum strength and RFD are correlated. However, the characteristics of this relationship are not well established among athletes. This study examined the relationship of peak isometric force (IPF) and RFD from a mid-thigh pull, among male and female track and field athletes. Athletes were 12 sprinters (S), 10 jumpers (JP) and 12 cross-country runners (XC). Force-time curve analysis was conducted for each (2 trials) isometric pull and averaged for analyses. IPF and RFD from 0 - 200 ms were determined from appropriate curves. IPFs were normalized using an allometric (IPFa) scaling equation: absolute force/ (body mass (kg)0.67). ICCs were previously shown to be > 0.9. Relationships were established with Pearson's r; statistical differences with a Bonferroni adjusted t-Test. IPF, IPFa and RFD were greater in males than females for S and JP but not for XC. IPF, IPFa and RFD were greater for S and JP compared to XC. Similar relationships of IPF to RFD were noted among groups S(r = 0.85), JP (r = 0.87), XC (r = 0.88). Among males, n = 19, the relationship ofIPF to RFD was r = 0.89 and was somewhat higher compared to females, n = 15, (r = 0.78). Overall (n = 34) relationship between IPF and RFD was r = 0.90. These data indicate a strong relationship between maximum strength and "explosiveness" that is independent.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA(Human Movement Science))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted