The Reliability and Magnitude of Time-Dependent Force-Time Characteristics During the Isometric Midthigh Pull Are Affected by Both Testing Protocol and Analysis Choices

Guppy, Stuart N.; Kotani, Yosuke; Brady, Claire J.; Connolly, Shannon; Comfort, Paul; Haff, G. Gregory

Abstract

Guppy, SN, Kotani, Y, Brady, CJ, Connolly, S, Comfort, P, and Haff, GG. Title: The reliability and magnitude of time-dependent force-time characteristics during the isometric mid-thigh pull are impacted by both testing protocol and analysis choices. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1191–1199, 2022—This study aimed to investigate whether the use of short-duration (SHORT) isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) trials resulted in greater reliability and magnitude of time-dependent force-time characteristics than traditionally performed IMTP trials (TRAD). Fourteen subjects with >6 months' training experience with the power clean volunteered to take part in the study. Subjects performed five ∼1-second IMTP trials (SHORT) and five 5-second IMTP trials (TRAD). SHORT resulted in substantially more reliable rate of force development (RFD) measures (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.97–0.99; coefficient of variation [CV] = 2.6–7.0%), particularly during time bands from force-onset to 150 ms, compared with TRAD when trials were selected for analysis based on peak force (ICC = 0.66–0.83; CV = 14.1–38.5%). Selecting TRAD trials based on RFD0-200 resulted in similar reliability compared with SHORT of those same epochs (ICC = 0.97–0.99; CV = 2.5–7.8%). Furthermore, SHORT resulted in significantly greater force at specific time points, RFD, and impulse compared with TRAD trials (p = 0.001–0.033; g = −0.16 to −0.66). Based on these results, strength and conditioning professionals should use specific testing protocols (i.e., TRAD and SHORT) depending on the component of an athlete's force-generating capacity that they wish to assess and remain aware of the effect analysis choices they have on the reliability of IMTP force-time characteristics.

Citation

Guppy, S. N., Kotani, Y., Brady, C. J., Connolly, S., Comfort, P., & Haff, G. G. (2022). The Reliability and Magnitude of Time-Dependent Force-Time Characteristics During the Isometric Midthigh Pull Are Affected by Both Testing Protocol and Analysis Choices. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36(5), 1191-1199. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004229

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Feb 15, 2022
• Publication Date: Feb 15, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jul 29, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
• Print ISSN: 1064-8011
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1191-1199
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004229
• Keywords: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, General Medicine
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004229