Reliability of lower limb strength assessment in female team sport athletes

Background

Lower limb injury rates have increased dramatically in line with increased female sport participation levels. Muscle strength is a modifiable lower limb injury risk factor, guiding performance monitoring and rehabilitation.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of isokinetic and isometric lower limb peak torque to body mass of muscles acting on the hip, knee, and ankle in female team sport athletes. It was hypothesised the test-retest reliability would be good (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ≥ 0.75).

Methods

Thirty-eight female athletes (Australian Rules Football = 18, netball = 12, soccer = 8) aged 16–35 years participated in this study. Participants performed isokinetic (60°/s and 120°/s) and isometric testing on a Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer on three separate days.

Results

Poor to good reliability was demonstrated for all joint movements (ICC = 0.38–0.88) with small to moderate effect sizes (0.00–0.43) and typical errors (5.65–24.49).

Conclusion

Differences in peak torque to body mass were observed between sessions one and two and/or one and three, demonstrating a learning effect. Therefore, three testing sessions, and/or the inclusion of a familiarisation session, is recommended for future assessments in populations unfamiliar with dynamometry.