muscle or group of muscles to repeatedly exert force against resistance. Performing multiple repetitions of an exercise is a form of muscular endurance, as is running or swimming. If your muscles have to contract in a similar pattern more than one time you are using muscular endurance. Dynamic Muscular Endurance Test
You can assess your client’s dynamic
muscular endurance by having the individual perform as many repetitions as possible using a weight that is a set percentage of the body weight or maximum strength (1-RM). Pollock, Wilmore and Fox (1978) recommend using a weight that is 70% of the 1-RM value for each exercise. The YMCA (Golding, Meyers, and Sinning 1989) recommends using a bench press test to assess dynamic muscular endurance of the upper body. For this absolute endurance test, use a flat bench and barbell. The client performs as many repetitions as possible at a set cadence of 30 repetitions per minute. Use a metronome to establish the exercise cadence. Male clients lift an 80 pound (36.4 kg) barbell, whereas the female clients use a 35 pound (15.9 kg ) barbell. Dynamic Muscular Testing Using Isokinetic and Omni kinetic Exercise Modes
Isokinetic dynamometer provide an
accurate assessment to strength endurance and provide power of muscle groups. The speed of the limb movement is kept at a constant preselected velocity. Any increase in muscular force produces an increased resistance rather than increased acceleration of the limb. Thus the fluctuations in muscular force throughout the ROM are matched by an equal counterforce or accumulating resistance. Isokinetic dynamometers measure muscular torque production of speeds 0° to 300°see. from the recorded output you can evaluate peak torque, total work, and power. Some less expensive Isokinetic dynamometers lack this Some less expensive Isokinetic dynamometers lack this recording capability but are suitable for training and rehabilitation exercise. Omni kinetic exercise dynamometers provide maximum overload at every joint angle throughout the ROM at whatever speed the individuals is capable of generating. This testing system provides an accommodating resistance that adjusts to both the force and velocity output of the individual and is not limited to a present velocity of limb movement. Thus, at anyone setting the individual maximally overloads both the force and velocity production capabilities of the contractile elements. The stronger the individual, the faster the speed of limb movement at any given setting. Also, increasing limb velocity results in increased resistance. Even as the muscles fatigues, the individual receives optimal overload with each repetition because the limb speed and resistance decrease. Theoretically, movement at slower speeds will allow recruitment of motor units that were not contributing to the total force production in earlier repetitions performed at faster speeds. Self accommodating, variables resistance- variable velocity exercise devices therefore assess the Isokinetic strength and endurance of both fast- twitch and slow-twitch motor units in the muscles group. Callisthenic – type strength and Muscular Endurance In certain field situation, you may not have access to dynamometers, free weights, or exercise machines to assess muscular fitness. As an alternative, you may use Callisthenic type strength and endurance test to assess your clients strength and muscular endurance. Dynamic Strength Tests
You can measure dynamic strength
using callisthenic type exercise by determining the maximum weight in excess of the body weight, that an individual can lift for one repetition of the movement. Dynamic Endurance Tests
You can assess dynamic muscular
endurance by measuring the maximum number of repetitions for each callisthenic type exercise. Test protocols and norms for some commonly used muscular endurance tests ( e.g. pull- ups, sit-ups and dips) Because many women and children are unable to perform even one pull-up, the timed flexed arm hang is commonly used for these groups. However, the flexed arm hang measures isometric endurance. To assess dynamic endurance of the arm and shoulder girdle musculature, Baumgartner (1978) developed a modified pull-up test that uses an inclined board (30° angle to floor)with a pull-up bar at the top. The ACSM (1995) recommend using a push-up test to assess endurance of the upper body musculature. When you are testing men have the client assume a standard push-up position, with the back straight, head up, and hands placed shoulder width apart. Place your fist on the floor beneath the clients chest and count the repetition only if his chest contracts your fist during each repetition. For women, modify the standard push- up position by having the client assume a kneeling position with the knees flexed to 90° and the ankle crossed. There is no set criterion for determining how far the body must be lowered during each repetition. Score the push- up test for men and women as the maximum number of consecutive repetitions performed without rest. Muscular Fitness Testing: Sources of Measurement Error
The validity and reliability of strength
and muscular endurance measures are affected by client factors equipment, technicians skill, and environmental factors. You must control each of these factors to ensure the accuracy and precision of muscular fitness scores. Client Factors Prior to measuring your clients strength for muscular endurance, familiarize them with the equipment and testing procedures. Clients with limited or no prior weight lifting experience need time to practice each lift to control for the effects of learning on performance. Even experienced weight lifters should given time to practice so you can correct any improper lifting techniques prior to testing. Muscular fitness tests required each client to give a maximal effort. Therefore, adequate sleep is needed, and you should restrict client’s use of drugs and medications that may adversely affect their performance. It is also important that you motivate your clients during testing by encouraging them to do their best and by giving them positive feedback. Equipment The design of testing equipment may also affect your client’s test scores. Most of the dynamic strength and muscular endurance protocols and norms in this chapter where develop using constant- resistance exercise machines. Therefore, you should not use free weights and variable-resistance machines when administering the tests. It is also important to calibrate the equipment and make sure that it is in proper working condition prior to testing inspection and maintenance of equipment will increase accuracy and decrease the risk of accidents. When selecting exercise machines, make sure that the equipment can be properly adjusted to accommodate varying limb lengths and body sizes. Use equipment specifically design for smaller individuals when testing children and smaller adults. Technician Skill All strength testing should be done by qualified, trained technicians who are knowledgeable about proper lifting and spotting techniques and familiar with standardized testing procedure. After explaining and demonstrating the proper lifting technique, give your client ample time to practice the lift, correcting any performance errors you see as the client practices. during the test, client may inadvertently “cheat” by moving extraneous body parts to help lift the weight. Carefully observe the client during the test, focusing on the grip (pronated vs. supinated) has a substantial effect on performance. For example, using a narrow grip instead of a wide grip during a latpulldown exercise increases the amount of weight that can be lifted. Likewise, the client will be able to produce more force during an arm curl using a supinated grip compare to a pronated grip. The client’s starting position may also affect strength scores. During the bench press, for example, eccentric movement (i.e., lowering the weight) prior to the concentric phase of the lift will increase the maximal muscular force due to the stretch reflex and the tendency for the client to “bounce” the weight off the chest. Environmental Factors
Factor such as room temperature and
humidity maybe affects the scores. The room temperature should be 70° to 74° F (21° to 23° C) to maximize client comfort during testing. Additional Considerations for Muscular Fitness Testing
A number of additional factors and
questions need to be addressed when assessing static and dynamic muscle strength and endurance of your clients. Can Strength or Muscular Endurance Be Assessed by a Single Test? Strength and endurance are specific to the muscle group, the type of muscular contraction (static or dynamic) the speed of muscular contraction (slow or fast), and the joint angle being tested (static contraction). There is no single test to evaluate total body muscle strength or endurance. Minimally, the strength test battery should include a measure of abdominal, lower- extremity, and upper-extremity strength. In addition, if the individuals trains dynamically, select a dynamic, not static, test to assess test to assess strength or endurance levels before and after training. Is it Safe to Give 1-RM Test to Children or Older Adults? It is safe to administer 1-RM test to clients at all ages if appropriate procedures are used by (Kraemer and Fleck1993). The risk injury in older adults(55 to 80 years) is low with only 2.4% of older adults experiencing an injury during 1-RM assessments. However, some experts recommend using 6-RM tests to assess the strength of children(Kraemer and Fry 1995). Alternatively, you can estimate the 1- RM of older clients, children, and adolescents from submaximal muscle endurance tests. How is Muscle Balance Assessed? Muscle strength is important to joint stability; however, strength imbalance between opposing muscle groups ( e.g, quadriceps femoris and hamstring) may compromise joints stability and increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury. For the reason experts recommend maintaining a balance in strength between agonist and antagonist muscle groups. Muscles balance ratios differ among muscle groups and are affected by the force velocity of muscle groups at specific joints. To control limb velocity during muscle balance testing you will do best to use isokinetic dynamometers. In field settings, however you can obtain a crude index of muscle balance by comparing 1- RM values to muscle groups. THANK YOU Prepared By: JESSA JAN VINSON APRIL ROSE LOZADA JANELLE NIEVES KIRK DOVIE BELIRAN CHARLENE SEVILLO