Endurance Tests During Isokinetic Contraction: Reliability of Functional Parameters

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Felicetti, Guido^{a; *} | Zelaschi, Franco^a | Di Patrizi, Stefano^a

Affiliations: [a] Clinica del Lavora Foundation, Institute of Care and Scientific Research, Rehabilitation Medical Center, Montescano, Italy

Note: [*] Address reprint requests to Dr. Guido Felicetti, Rehabilitation Medical Center of Montescano, 27040 Pavia, Italy.

Abstract: This article illustrates a new computerized analysis of endurance during prolonged isokinetic flexor–extensor contraction of the knee and studies its reproducibility. Thirty men 20–30 years of age with no knee pathologies were studied. Each subject performed an endurance test three times, each test separated by 3 days. The evaluation consisted of a cycle of 1 minute of concentric knee flexion–extension actions at an angular velocity of 180 deg/sec. Appropriate computer software was used to process the following parameters: total work and number of repetitions necessary to obtain a 20–30–50% decrement from baseline work, baseline torque, and number and duration of cycles necessary to obtain a 20–30–50% decrement of the peak torque compared with baseline values. The parameters obtained were statistically evaluated. The results showed that there was no difference between left and right sides, and the parameters with the best reproducibility were total work, baseline torque, and the 20–30–50% decrement of work compared with base values.

Keywords: Isokinetics, endurance, computerized evaluation

DOI: 10.3233/IES-1994-4205

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 76-80, 1994