Abstract
Evaluating the maximal force exertable by a subject in a particular exercise is an important starting step in setting up rehabilitation and training programs. The current reference procedure is the isokinetic approach, which has some limitations due to poor physiological agreement and high cost of the equipment. This paper describes a method for evaluating maximal force using an isotonic approach. The maximal force value is extrapolated from the linear behavior of the relationship between the force and the maximal velocity at lower loads. The method was applied to a group of 25 students at the Sports Medicine Faculty, University of Bologna using a leg extension AirMachine (919 Tech). Loads were settled adopting a step-up protocol and the maximal velocity was calculated by measuring the instantaneous angle of the lever. The linear correlation coefficient between the settled loads and the maximal velocity ranged between 0.5679 and 0.9980 for the right leg and between 0.6791 and 0.9895 for the left leg, and the maximal estimated force ranged between 26.9 kg and 248.2 kg for the right leg and between 32.6 kg and 221.9 kg for the left leg. The method showed a good feasibility and an acceptable error level, and can be proposed as an alternative to the isokinetic approach.
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