Differences in Elbow Flexion Torque Measured

The purposes of this study were to describe torque-velocity relationships during concentric, eccentric, and isometric testing of elbow flexor muscles and to determine test-retest reliability of a specific isokinetic testing protocol. Thirty healthy women were tested using an isokinetic dynamometer at velocities of 0°, 30°, 120°, and 210°/sec. Reliability was assessed in 20 of the subjects by retesting concentric and eccentric torques at 30 ° and 120°/sec after a 30-minute rest interval. The highest torque from three maximal efforts was considered to be peak torque. Mean eccentric peak torque was greater than either isometric or concentric peak torque; as isokinetic test velocity increased, the differences between concentric and eccentric torques became larger. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from.72 to.83, indicating lack of consistency between test and retest torques. Consecutive concentric-eccentric testing and lack of me-chanical stabilization might have contributed to test-retest variability and to the relatively small differences between concentric and eccentric torques. Continued study of reliability of isokinetic testing protocols and further investigation of concentric-eccentric torque-velocity relationships are advocated