Measurement of specific movement power application: evaluation of weight lifters

A new dynamometer was developed for the measurement of specific movement po wer (SMP) exerted by mono- or multi-articular movements. To determine the r eproducibility of SMP, two identical test protocols were carried out on sep arate days for six movement types on seven adult males. The movement types were arm pull (AP), leg rise (LR), knee extension (KE), elbow flexion (EF), hip extension (HE) and squat movement (SQ). Variations in peak power obtai ned in two tests ranged from 0.7% (AP) to 9.6% (SQ). Coefficients of the te st-re-test correlation in peak power ranged from 0.805 (SQ) to 0.961 (AP) a nd standard errors ranged from 4 W (EF) to 14 W (SQ). SMP in upper extremit ies increased from 166 TV (EF) to 307 W (AP) resulting from the increase in velocity. However, in the movements of lower extremities, SMP increased fr om 586 W (KE) to 1351 W (SQ) as a result of the increase in force. To evalu ate the validity of the SMP, a pull movement in weightlifting was tested an d related to the athletic performance on weightlifters. Positive linear cor relation (r = 0.862, p<0.001) was observed between SMP and the total weight best records. It is concluded that this newly developed dynamometer has en ough reproducibility and validity for evaluating the SMP, which is develope d by various joint movement patterns related to the sport. The feasibility of applying this measuring protocol to the testing and training programmes for improving the daily living activities and athletic performances should now be assessed.