Strength Recovery Rest Periods During Isokinetic Testing

Abstract

PURPOSE Several studies have looked at changes which occur as a result of strength training in males by using isokinetic testing. Other studies have used isokinetic testing to assess changes associated with lack of activity. However, the rest period for testing protocols has not been standardized. The purpose of this study was to replicate the testing protocol used by Parcell et al. (2002) with a female population assessing the minimum length of rest period during isokinetic testing bouts. METHODS Six female college students signed IRB documents approved by the university human subjects review board. Each subject participated in two familiarization sessions, and four testing sessions. During testing sessions, the subjects performed four maximal knee extension repetitions at speeds of 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 degrees/sec with counterbalanced rest periods of 15, 60, 180, and 300 seconds. The data were analyzed using a 4 × 5 repeated measures ANOVA (p <.05) with velocity and rest as the independent variables and peak torque as the dependent variable. RESULTS There was no significant interaction between rest periods and speeds and there was no main effect of rest periods. However, there was a significant main effect of speed (F = 4.979, p<.05). A Scheffe' post hoc analysis revealed significant differences in speed between 60 degrees/sec and 180-240-300 degrees/sec and 120 degrees/sec and 180-240-300 degrees/sec. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that regardless of rest period, at slower isokinetic testing speeds the subjects were able to produce significantly greater torques than they did at the higher speeds. However, all groups seemed to be relatively consistent in torque production at the higher isokinetic speeds regardless of rest periods.