Isokinetics and Exercise Science - Volume 17, issue 2
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Isokinetics and Exercise Science (IES) is an international journal devoted to the study of theoretical and applied aspects of human muscle performance. Since isokinetic dynamometry constitutes the major tool in this area, the journal takes a particular interest in exploring the considerable potential of this technology.
Isokinetics and Exercise Science publishes studies associated with the methodology of muscle performance especially with respect to the issues of reproducibility and validity of testing, description of normal and pathological mechanical parameters which are derivable from muscle testing, applications in basic research topics such as motor learning paradigms and electromyography. The journal also publishes studies on applications in clinical settings and technical aspects of the various measurement systems employed in human muscle performance research.
Isokinetics and Exercise Science welcomes submissions in the form of research papers, reviews, case studies and technical reports from professionals in the fields of sports medicine, orthopaedic and neurological rehabilitation and exercise physiology.
Abstract: In this study, we performed 6-minutes walking tests using a portable gas analyzer in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis, and examined the effects of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) application on the walking ability and energy expenditure during walking. The subjects were 18 patients with post-stroke hemiparesis, who were admitted to the rehabilitation care unit of our rehabilitation center, and could walk. We performed 6-min walking tests with and without AFO application in these patients, and examined the walking…distance and velocity, oxygen consumption (VO_{2} ), and heart rate (HR) during walking. The oxygen consumption per meter (VO_{2} m^{-1} ) and physiological cost index (PCI) were determined as the efficiency of kinetic energy. The difference in the VO_{2} during walking was not significant between application and non-application of the AFO, but the differences in the walking distance and velocity and the VO_{2} m^{-1} and PCI were significant. It was suggested that improvement of the walking ability and reduction of energy expenditure during walking were possible in motion-impaired patients with post-stroke hemiparesis by AFO application.
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Keywords: Stroke, walking, ankle-foot orthosis, oxygen consumption, energy expenditure
Abstract: Background: Isokinetic testing imposes severe cardiovascular stress which must be taken into consideration particularly when at risk patients are involved. Objective: To assess the effects of isokinetic tests on heart rate (HR) in stable chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Subjects: Twenty five CHF patients, 23 men, 2 women. Intervention: After a 10-min warm-up on a cycle ergometer, one lower limb was tested isokinetically using 3 successive repetitions of knee flexion-extension at 60 and 180°/s…and 20-repetitions at 240°/s. Heart rate was recorded on average over 5 sec and was analyzed at the start and end of each exercise. Peak ˙VO_{2} was assessed during maximal incremental test on the ergometer. Results: Maximal values (117.6 ± 22.0 bpm) of HR were obtained during incremental exercise testing which corresponded to 97.6 ± 14.0% of maximal HR noted at peak ˙VO_{2} . Conclusion: Isokinetic muscle strength testing in CHF patients must be performed under the supervision of an experienced clinician who should judge the value and feasibility of the endurance test.
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Abstract: Skeletal muscle weakness is a frequent symptom of thyroid dysfunction. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may cause signs and symptoms of neuromuscular dysfunction. It has been reported in previous studies that muscle strength recovers after treatment of thyroid dysfunction. The aim of the current study was to evaluate knee extensors and flexors strength in patients with thyroid dysfunction before and after medical treatment and compare the data with those of a matched control group. For this purpose…11 hyperthyroid, 9 hypothyroid patients and 27 healthy controls were recruited. All were tested isokinetically on the dominant side. The results suggest that return of thyroid hormone concentrations to their reference ranges, significantly increases muscular strength in hyperthyroid patients. However there was no significant recovery in the hypothyroid group. Nevertheless in both groups post-treatment muscle strength was significantly lower than in the control group. The findings suggest that patients with thyroid dysfunction, especially with hypothyroidism, should train for muscle strengthening after establishing euthyroidism to obtain optimum life conditions.
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Abstract: The aim of the study is to examine the effect of ankle taping on ankle plantarflexion (PF) and dorsiflexion (DF) isokinetic strength and vertical jump height in elite taekwondo athletes. Seven women and 9 men taekwondo athletes forming the Turkish National Taekwondo Team participated in this study. A closed basket weave taping technique was applied to the dominant and non-dominant ankle. Tests were performed both in un-taped and taped conditions. Peak torques values at 60 and…180°/s were nonsignificantly lower in the taped condition (p > 0.05). Ankle taping resulted also is a significant reduction in jump height (p < 0.05). The findings of this study suggest that ankle taping affect detrimentally performance in this group of taekwondo athletes.
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Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between isokinetic strength of knee, vertical jump and anaerobic peak power. Twenty one healthy young male voluntarily participated in this study. Squat Jump (SJ), Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) and Wingate anaerobic power test were performed. Bilateral concentric isokinetic strength of the knee extensors/flexors was evaluated at 60, 120 and 180°/s. CMJ height had a significant and moderate relationship with the isokinetic knee…strength of extension measured at 120 and 180°/s whereas SJ height was not correlated with any of the isokinetic strength parameters. Absolute, and less so normalized, power bore significant relationship to the isokinetic parameters. Hence the relevance of maximal isokinetic knee extension strength may be limited counter movement jumping
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Keywords: Isokinetic strength, knee, squat jump, counter movement jump, anaerobic peak power
Abstract: Objectives: The objectives of the study were to measure and compare handgrip strength using two instruments, Jamar® and Grippit® and to assess the validity and evaluate the test-retest reliability of each instrument. Thirty-four participants were recruited from University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Included were apparently healthy women, right handed and aged 20–29 years. Handgrip strength was measured with Jamar® and Grippit® on two occasions 4–11 days…apart. Three measurements were made with each hand and instrument on two separate occasions. The test-retest reliability of both instruments showed very high correlations (ICC 0.87–0.95) and SRD% ranged from 12–15%. When comparing the results obtained from both instruments, high correlations (r = 0.78–0.83) were found between all the analysed variables. The test-retest reliability of both Jamar® and Grippit® was very high as was the concurrent validity between the two instruments.
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Abstract: High test retest reproducibility is essential in tests used for monitoring athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to establish the reproducibility (R) and validity (V) of Hacettepe Intermittent Jumping Test (HIJT) applied in order to determine physiological and mechanical changes during maximal intermittent jumping exercise (5*15 s maximal jumping and 60 s passive recovery between series). Subjects were measured 3 times on separate days to test the R and once in random order to…test the V of the HIJT. Subjects performed HIJT on a platform with their hands on their waist. During the study, total and mean power outputs, fatigue index, rest and maximal heart rate were calculated. Three different testing groups (n = 34) joined the R study while only one of these groups joined the V study in which subjects jumped for a minute (60CJT) with their maximum effort. During this stage blood samples were taken from the earlobes of subjects, at the beginning and at the end of the test. A significant correlation was found among tests of different groups on different days (p < 0.05) and HIJT gave similar results during different trials (p > 0.05). The relationships between HIJT and 60CJT were significant (p < 0.05). Based on correlational analysis HIJT demonstrated satisfactory R and V and may thus be used both under laboratory and field conditions to evaluate anaerobic fitness.
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Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of eight weeks of strength training on fatigue resistance in men and women. Thirty-three men and twenty-three women performed eight weeks of strength training in three weekly sessions. Subjects performed four sets using 80% of 1-RM tests on bench press, squat and arm curl. Fatigue index (FI) was used for analysis of decline in motor performance along the sets. The sum of the number of…repetitions accomplished in the four sets in each exercise was used to indicate the fatigue resistance. Anova or Ancova two-way (time x gender) was employed for statistical analysis (P < 0.05). Eight weeks of strength training increased significantly 1-RM strength, fatigue resistance and total number of repetitions in both genders. FI decreased significantly in both genders after training (men = 50% vs. women = Time x gender interaction was observed in the total number of repetitions in squat (P = 0.04) and arm curl exercises, regarding gains to women (P = 0.01). In conclusion, eight weeks of ST improved strength, FR, FI and total number of repetitions performed. However, women obtained greater adaptations than men.
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Abstract: The aim of this study was to modify an elliptical trainer and determine a suitable test load with it in order to perform Wingate anaerobic testing (WAnTet). Modifications were made to an electromagnetically braked elliptical trainer. Study participants were forty-eight physically active male college athletes (mean age 20 ± 1 years). Two pilot studies (n = 8) were administered to determine electrical signalling errors and to select the range of potentially suitable test loads (between 0.5…to 1.3 watt/kg). The 1.0 watt/kg WAnTet load was determined to be the most suitable for WAnTet applications amongst 0.8 to 1.1 watt/kg loads (n = 40; p < 0.05). Test-retest results using the 1.0 watt/kg load for peak power (PP) (1477 ± 258 and 1484 ± 271 watts), average power (AP) (1134 ± 209 and 1120 ± 208 watts), fatigue index ratio (FI%) (49 ± 10% and 49 ± 10%) and change in lactate levels (12.6 ± 1.7 and 12.4 ± 2.1 mM) were highly correlated (r: 0.94, 0.94, 0.80 and 0.74, respectively; p < 0.001). An electromagnetically braked elliptical trainer may be used to measure anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity of athletes and may be substituted for the usual Wingate anaerobic test performed on a cycle ergometer.
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Abstract: The Wingate Anaerobic Test is the most common method used to evaluate explosive power and anaerobic capacity. The Wingate Anaerobic Test performed on an elliptical trainer (WAnTet) may be more accurate than the Wingate Anaerobic Test performed on a cycle ergometer (WAnTc) since larger muscle group recruitment with the WAnTet results in higher anaerobic output. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare peak power (PP), average power (AP), fatigue index (FI%) and delta…lactate responses (ΔLa) between WAnTet and WAnTc in healthy male university athletes. In our test subjects, (n = 40; 21 ± 2 years old), PP (1463 ± 238 vs. 879 ± 162 watts) and AP (1127 ± 191 vs. 649 ± 82 watts) for the WAnTet were higher when compared to the WAnTc (p < 0.001). FI%s of WAnTet and WAnTc were similar (49.8 ± 10.3% and 46.9 ± 8.3%, respectively; p = 0.054) but ΔLa values were higher for WAnTet than for WAnTc (12.9 ± 1.7 mM vs. 9.2 ± 1.5 mM, respectively; p < 0.001). Using an elliptical trainer, rather than a traditional cycle ergometer, results in a more accurate measure of anaerobic power when Wingate Anaerobic Testing is performed.
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