ISOKINETIC TRUNK TESTING AND EMPLOYMENT

Isokinetic trunk testing is often performed to evaluate ability to per form job tasks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiv eness of isokinetic trunk testing in identifying people with limited f unctional lifting capability and likely future injury potential. Two h undred thirty work applicants for heavy labor in a steel mill underwen t job-related lifting ability and isokinetic trunk evaluation. There w as no difference between the isokinetic scores of women who did not me et the job lifting criteria and those who did meet the lifting criteri a. There was no difference between the isokinetic scores of workers wh o experienced occupational low back injury and those workers who did n ot over almost a 6-year follow-up period. In this study isokinetic tru nk evaluation was of no value in employee selection.