Reliability and effects of muscular pretension on isometric strength of older adults

摘要

There were two objectives to this study: (a) to determine the reliability of measuring isometric maximum torque (MT) and maximum rate of torque development (MRTD) of the knee extensor and flexor muscles and (b) to assess the effects of different muscular pretensions on MT and MRTD of older adults. Maximum strength of 35 untrained healthy older adults (aged 66.9?±?6.6?years; height 1.72?±?0.07?m; weight 75.2?±?9.6?kg) was measured. Strength measurement was performed with the Dr. Wolff ISO Check using a piezo-electric force transducer. MT intra-day coefficient of variation (CV) was between 3.30 and 12.40?% for both measurement sessions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranging from 0.71 to 0.99 showed good relative reliability. MT test–retest reliability (between sessions 1 and 2) of knee extension reached a CV between 7.10 and 9.30?% and high ICC values. The measurement of the knee flexion achieved an acceptable CV (9.40?%) at 40?% muscular pretension. MRTD was negatively influenced by muscular pretension ( p