THE EFFECTS OF A 4-WEEK MUSCLE STRENGTHENING PROGRAM ON MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE LIFTING LOAD

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a tradition al strengthening program on subjects' maximum acceptable lifting load. Nineteen (nine males, ten females) university students volunteered fo r the present study. They were randomly divided into a training group (five males, seven females) and a control group (four males, three fem ales). The training group participated in 12 sessions of alternate day traditional dead weight strengthening programs for a period of 4 week s. The measurements of the training effects included assessment of the maximum acceptable lifting load by psychophysical approach and isokin etic peak torque of the back extensors, knee extensors, shoulder abduc tors, and elbow flexors. Multivariate ANOVA was used to test for the t raining effect. Results revealed significant improvement in the maximu m acceptable lifting load (p < 0.001) and back extensors peak torque ( p = 0.039) after 4 weeks of training. It is concluded that a 4-week fr ee weight muscle training program is effective in improving an individ ual's maximum acceptable lifting load. This type of physical training program may be useful to people engaged in manual material handling ta sks.