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Archive > Year 2012, Number 4

Reliability and validity of bilateral alternating consecutive maximum contractions as a test of neuromuscular function: A pilot study


Authors

Banićević Dragan, Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, University of Belgrade

Abstract

Although regularly used, the standard strength test (SST) is known to have several shortcomings, such as being based only on sustained maximum contractions as well as on a relatively large number of trials that expose the tested muscle to rapid fatigue. The aim of this pilot study was to preliminary evaluate alternating consecutive maximum contractions (ACMC) performed bilaterally (Bilateral ACMC) as a test of neuromuscular function through its comparison with both SST and Unilateral ACMC. Seven participants performed SST and both the externally paced (1.33 Hz) isometric Unilateral and Bilateral ACMC of the knee extensors and flexors muscles. In order to detect the possible effects of the phenomenon known as bilateral deficit, Bilateral ACMC were performed simultaneously with homonymous muscles (Bilateral phase ACMC) and with non-homonymous muscles (Bilateral anti-phase ACMC). The derived variables of all strength tests included the peak forces and their maximum rates of force development exerted in both directions. The preliminary results revealed the properties of Bilateral ACMC to be similar to SST regarding the intra-trial reliability and validity. However, Bilateral ACMC has comparative advantage over both SST and Unilateral ACMC, since only one trial is needed to assess neuromuscular function of four different muscles. Moreover, it is shown that the effect of bilateral deficit affects only the simultaneous contraction of homonymous muscle (Bilateral phase ACMC) presuming Bilateral anti-phase ACMC as a test that could reveal higher external validity. Further research performed on a larger number of subjects is needed to confirm these potentially important findings.

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