REPRODUCIBILITY OF CONCENTRIC AND ECCENTRIC PEAK TORQUE IN FEMALES

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of female subjects to reproduce peak torque during concentric and eccentric muscle contractions as measured by a CYBEX NORM isokinetic dynamometer. Twenty female subjects were tested using a knee extension protocol (both concentric and eccentric) at velocities of 60 and 120 deg/sec with a 30 sec rest between each repetition and a 1 min rest between velocity sets. ANOVA results indicated a significant interaction between velocity and order effect (4.47, p<.05). Pearson correlations were found to be significant for all velocities, with the eccentric first group producing overall higher correlation coefficients. In this study the subjects who performed eccentric tests initially were more consistent in reproducing peak torque.