Search

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationships between measures of maximal isometric force (PF), rate of force development (RFD), vertical jump performance (VJ) and one repetition maximum (1RM) strength in recreationally trained men. The subjects in this study were 26 men ((mean ± SD): age 22 ± 1 years; height 175 ± 7 cm; mass 90 ± 10 kg). They were tested for PF using the isometric mid thigh pull exercise. The 1RM for the squat and bench press exercise were determined as a measure of dynamic strength. Explosive strength was measured as RFD from the isometric force-time curve. Correlations between the variables were calculated using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient. There was a nearly perfect correlation between measures of PF and 1RM squat (r = 0.97, p < 0.05) and 1RM bench press (r = 0.99, p < 0.05). The correlations were very strong between VJ and PF (r = 0.72, p < 0.05) and 1RM bench press (r = 0.70, p < 0.05). There were also strong correlations between VJ and 1RM squat (r = 0.69, p < 0.05). There were no significant correlations with RFD. The results showed that isometric maximum strength determined during the isometric mid thigh pull test correlated well with 1RM and VJ testing. However, RFD measured during the same test did not appear to correlate as well with other measures. The isometric mid thigh pull provides an efficient method for assessing strength in recreationally trained individuals. Practioners wishing to obtain performance data related to maximum strength may wish to consider isometric testing as a less time intensive method of testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]