The Interrelationships Among Isokinetic Strength, Power, and Muscular Endurance in Male and Female Runners and Non-Runners

Seventy-nine Ss, 38 males and 41 females, were tested on 2 separate occasions for isokinetic strength, power, and muscular endurance on the Cybex I1 isokinetic dynamometer, Ss were grouped according to sex and weekly running mileage. Nineteen of the males were runners, averaging 43.3 miles/week, and 19 were non-runners. Fourteen females were runners, averaging 34.6 miles/week, and 27 were non-runners. Following an orientation session which involved verbal explanation of the machinery, isokinetic principles, and the test protocol, each S experienced physical practice on the dynamometer. Ss were then tested for strength at 60�/sec., for power at 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, and 300�/sec., and for muscular endurance a 180�/sec. One to 4 days later, this testing procedure was repeated. Dependent t-tests revealed sig (P.<.O1) increases from TI. to T2 in strength and power in trained males (TM) and trained females (TF) and strength, power and muscular endurance in untrained females. Isokinetic strength and isokinetic power were sig (P.<.O1) related only in UF r=0.51. It was concluded that an orientation session prior to isokinetic testing was necessary for those having no previous experience with isokinetic instrumentation and/or testing. Also, it was concluded that there is a strong, positive relationship between isokinetic strength and isokinetic power, regardless of training habits. Though statistical sig was achieved in one group between isokinetic strength and isokinetic muscular endurance and isokinetic power and isokinetic muscular endurance, no practical, usable relationships were observed between these parameters in any group