Abstract des Autors

Aim. The evaluation of the maximal force exertable by a subject in a particular exercise is an important starting step to set up rehabilitation and training programs. Actually, the reference procedure is the isokinetic approach, which has some limitations due to poor physiological agreement and high cost of the apparatuses. This paper describes a method for evaluating maximal force using an isotonic approach. The maximal force value is extrapolated by the linear behaviour of the relationship between the force and the maximal velocity at lower loads. Methods. The method has been applied to a group of 25 students of Sports Medicine Faculty at the University of Bologna, by using a AirMachine leg extension (919 Tech). Loads were settled adopting a step-up protocol and the maximal velocity was calculated by measuring the instantaneous angle of the lever. The linear correlation coefficient between the settled loads and the maximal velocity ranged between 0.5679 and 0.9980 for the right leg and between 0.6791 and 0.9895 for the left one, and the maximal estimated force ranged between 26.9 kg and 248.2 kg for the right leg and between 32.6 kg and 221.9 kg for the left one. Conclusion. The method has shown a good feasibility and an acceptable error level and can be proposed as an alternative approach with respect of isokinetic one.