Sources of error in muscular strength and endurance tests

1
Sources of error in muscular strength and
endurance tests

• HK 456
• Joe MacPherson and Marc LeVangie

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What is muscular strength and endurance?

• Muscular strength
• Maximal force
• 1 RM

3
What is muscular strength and endurance?

• Muscular endurance
• Submaximal force
• Extended time period

4
Why is it important?

• Improve daily activities
• Simple chores become easier
• Essential component of physical fitness

5
Why is testing required?

• Link to health problems
• Evaluate training programs
• Compare elite performances
• Study a particular population

6
Testing

• Numerous muscular endurance and fitness tests
  exist
• 1 RM bench press
• 1 RM leg extension
• Push up test
• Partial curl up test

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Pre-test requirements

• Validity
• Accurately measuring variable of interest
• Reliability
• Consisitency of measurement
• Objectivity
• Intertester reliability

8
Four main sources of error when assessing
muscular fitness

• Client Factors
• Equipment
• Technician Skill
• Environmental Factors

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Client Factors

• Dress Requirements
• Food and Beverages
• Smoking
• Exercise
• Medication
• Adequate Sleep
• Familiarization of equipment and testing
  procedures
• Motivation and rest between trials

10
Equipment

• Design
• Equipment calibration
• Equipment inspection and maintenance
• Size and adjustability of equipment
• Prediction equations

11
Technician Skill

• Qualified technicians
• trained and knowledgeable about proper lifting
  and spotting techniques
• Proper demonstrations
• explain and walk client through movements,
  correct errors
• Grips and Starting positions
• STANDARDIZATION

12
Environmental Factors

• Room temperature
• Humidity
• Few distractions
• Visual
• Auditory
• Diurnal effects

13
Measurement error categories

• Systematic error
• Biases in many measurements
• Equipment calibration or environment

14
Measurement error categories

• Random error
• Errors leading to inconsistent values
• Due to equipment precision and/or experimenter
• Duration of test can change effect of error
• 5 seconds test vs 60 second
• Reaction time 8.0 vs 0.67

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Static shoulder raise

• Start timer when shoulders are parallel to floor
• Stop timer when participant no longer holds
  position

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Muscular endurance push up test

• Begin with hands wider than shoulder width
• Flex at elbow joint to 90 degrees
• bottom of push up your upper arms are parallel to
  the floor and forearms perpendicular
• Back remains straight, abdominals do not touch
  floor
• Push up to initial position

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Push up form
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Muscular endurance pushup test
Age (years)   Needs Improvement   Fair   Good   Very Good   Excellent
Male          
15-19 17 18-22 23-28 29-38 39
20-29 16 17-21 22-28 29-35 36
30-39 11 12-16 17-21 22-29 30
40-49 9 10-12 13-16 17-24 25
50-59 6 7-9 10-12 13-20 21
60 4 5-7 8-10 11-17 18
Female          
15-19 11 12-17 18-24 25-32 33
20-29 9 10-14 15-20 21-29 30
30-39 7 8-12 13-19 20-26 27
40-49 4 5-10 11-14 15-23 24
50-59 1 2-6 7-10 11-20 21
60 1 2-4 5-11 10-16 17

• Potential errors
• Clientele error
• Maximal effort
• Proper dress
• Equipment
• Population norms
• Technician skills
• Instructing proper form
• Improper pushups not counted
• Environment
• Classmates present affect performance

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Thank you for your time and attention