Original scientific paper

Validity of measuring muscle activation levels by isokinetic testing

Romina Umer ; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Mitja Gerževič ; 1University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Vojko Strojnik ; 1University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

The study aimed at testing the possibility of using an isokinetic dynamometer to measure muscle activation level (AL). The AL measured with an isokinetic dynamometer and calculated as a ratio between the maximum isometric and eccentric torques was compared against the AL obtained by the double interpolated twitch
method. Eighteen male students with different levels of training participated in the study. The average ALs measured by the isokinetic dynamometer (AL_ISOK) at knee angles of 55° and 60°, as well as the average AL calculated from the maximum eccentric torque independently of a knee angle at angular velocities of 60°/s (100.10±13.25%, 92.43±11.82% and 84.33±9.29%, respectively) and 120°/s (99.93±11.93%, 94.61±13.79% and 88.52±14.07%, respectively) did not differ significantly from the average ALs measured by the double interpolated twitch method (AL_TW=89.50±7.42%). Significant correlations were found between AL_TW and several AL_ISOK at the angular velocity of 120°/s. However, the correlations were negative and low to medium (from –.478 to –.609). It was concluded that the AL_ISOK were not comparable to the AL_TW and therefore seemed not suitable for the activation level measurement, although the negative correlations
between the two methods still leave this possibility.

Keywords

strength deficit; isokinetic dynamometer; interpolated twitch; electrical stimulation

Hrčak ID:

75473

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/75473

Publication date:

30.12.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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