A Comprehensive

Guide for Measuring

Muscle Strength
A CONSIDERATION OF ISOMETRIC DYNAMOMETRY OPTIONS

Strength is commonly measured in an attempt to maximise performance and mitigate

injury risk in athletic and medical settings. In an attempt to gain more accurate measures of
strength than traditional repetition maximum based testing, and to isolate specific muscle
groups, Hand-Held Dynamometry (HHD) is often utilised.

EBOOK

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

What is a handheld
dynonometer and how is
it best used?
A handheld dynamometer (HHD) is a device During ‘break’ tests the operator overcomes
used to measure muscle strength. It is the isometric force generated by the athlete
typically compact, can be held in one hand, to rapidly increase joint angle and target
and incorporates a gauge or display that muscle length. The operator must be
provides a numerical readout of the amount sufficiently strong to overcome the peak
of force exerted. force generated by the muscle group being
In sport, HHD’s are often used by physical tested. The athlete’s injury / pathology and
therapists, healthcare professionals, athletic apprehension to high force testing must be
trainers and strength coaches to assess appropriate when utilising a ‘break’ protocol
strength of specific muscle groups. The test.
athlete performs a maximal isometric HHD test results are used to identify muscle
contraction of a specific target muscle strength imbalances and changes in an
group using a ‘make’ or ‘break’ protocol. athletes’ strength profile over time. Acute
‘Make’ tests involve the athlete gradually or chronic changes in strength may occur
and safely increasing the level of muscle due to fatigue and pain / injury in response
contraction until they push as hard as they to training loads. There is good evidence
can into the load cell. During a make test confirming the benefits of assessing,
the HHD can be externally fixed in a manner monitoring and improving muscle strength
that allows the measurement of high on both athlete performance and health/
isometric and on occasions eccentric force. injury risk.

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

Sources of HHD errors and

primary limitations

Skill, Experience and Strength of the required to measure strength at multiple

operator: The accuracy and reliability of points in range or to assess the fatigability
handheld dynamometry is affected by of a muscle group when contractions are
the skill, experience and strength of the repeated or sustained over time. An athlete
operator. In short, it takes practice to learn with a high peak force that is considered
how to apply the device correctly and strong relative to peers, may fatigue rapidly
consistently. Sufficient operator strength is when maximal or submaximal contractions
also required when testing the prime mover are repeated or sustained over time. As
or major muscle groups of elite athletes. increased fatigability can increase injury
Positioning and Alignment: Proper risk, testing this parameter should also be
positioning and alignment of the device considered.
and the body part are critical for accurate Functional expression of strength: A
measurement. If the device is not aligned HHD is used to isolate and test for specific
appropriately, or the athlete positioned strength deficits. These protocols may
incorrectly, strength results will be not provide a complete representation
inaccurate. These are primarily dependent of the functional or dynamic strength of
upon the experience of the operator and an athlete. Additional testing is therefore
the familiarisation of the athlete. often used to supplement isometric
Muscle activation and fatigue: HHDs dynamometry testing. However, it should
are used to measure peak isometric force be noted that more isolated dynamometry
production of a muscle group at a specific testing often reveals deficits in muscle
point in range. Additional protocols are control and capacity missed during more
functional / dynamic testing.

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

Managing HHD errors in

the clinical setting

To reduce error and misinterpretation of • Elicit a true MVIC from the athlete /
data the clinician should aim to: patient by maximising subject familiarity
• Position the HHD at right angles to and motivation, and modifying testing to
the test lever arm with the athlete in a take into account any fear, pain or reflex
consistent position that maximises the inhibition related to the test position or
likelihood of acquiring a true maximum relevant pathology.
voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of • KT360 has been specifically designed
the target muscle group. and shown to minimise these sources of
• Ensure the operator has sufficient error and to maximise clinical utility when
strength to stabilise against the forces testing strength.
generated. This issue is amplified in elite
sport where athletes generate high forces
during testing and when athlete profiling
can involve testing between 15 and 100
players. Strength, strength endurance and
fatigue of the HHD operator become an
even more significant issue.

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

“I had used different pieces of testing and

training technology at previous clubs, but after
trialling the KT360, I definitely realised the
benefits in its use and application.”

IBRAHIM KEREM
Head of Physiotherapy (women)
Manchester United FC

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

What are alternatives to

HHD when measuring
Muscle Strength?
Other methods of strength measurement Electromyography (EMG): EMG measures
can be used to supplement or support HHD the electrical activity present during muscle
based assessment of isometric muscle contraction. This method can be used to
strength. assess temporal and spatial characteristics
One-repetition maximum (1RM) testing: of muscle activation and co-ordination.
This involves lifting the heaviest weight an Patterns of neuromuscular inhibition
athlete can lift for one full range repetition, within and between muscle groups may be
through a concentric and eccentric identified.
contraction phase during exercises such as Functional movement testing (FMT): FMT
the bench press, back squat and dead lift. involves assessing an athlete’s ability to
An athlete’s 1RM may be limited by either perform specific movements or tasks in
their concentric or eccentric strength at clinical or field settings. Testing can provide
a particular point in range. This is made insight into an athlete’s overall dynamic
evident by their point of failure. range, movement quality and functional
strength. Whilst movement tests can be of
value in the clinical setting, their correlation
with injury risk is often poor. FMT should be
utilised with discretion and in combination
with other testing / assessment strategies.

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

What are the advantages

of isometric strength
testing for elite athletes?
SPECIFICITY REHABILITATION
Isometric strength testing can be used to Isometric strength testing can also be used
evaluate an athlete’s ability to produce force for rehabilitation Purposes. It can help
in a specific posture, joint angle or muscle to identify isolated muscle imbalances
length. This is critical for sports that require contributing to an injury often missed by
strength at specific joint angles / muscle more compound multisegment strength
lengths such as sprinting, weightlifting, testing. These differential strength patterns
kayaking, and throwing. can then be tracked over time as part of
the return to high level training and play
decision making process.
EFFICIENCY/CLINICAL UTILITY
Isometric Strength Testing requires minimal
equipment and can be completed quickly, OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT
making it an efficient method for testing Isometric strength testing with real time
multiple athletes accurately in a short biofeedback provides an objective measure
period of time. Testing is often incorporated of an athlete’s strength with the risk that
into existing gym or prep to train sessions fear, apprehension, inhibition and the
in athletic development programs without skill associated with complex movement
interruption to workflows. interfere with data quality minimised.

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

What are the advantages

of isometric strength
testing for elite athletes?
SAFETY
Isometric strength testing is a safe method
of testing maximal strength, as the risk of
injury and post test and training delayed
onset muscle soreness is reduced compared
to dynamic isotonic and eccentric biased
strength testing.

TARGET TISSUE
Tendinopathy: Isometric training has been
shown to have differential effects on tendon,
tendinopathy and associated tendon pain
mechanisms. These mechanisms appear
to be dependent on the intensity and
total time under tension involved during
isometric muscle contraction. Being ale
to accurately track these load parameters
within an athlete’s/patient’s program assists
both injury prevention and rehabilitation.

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

“KT360 has been transformative for our rehabs

and injury risk mitigation efforts through
precision medicine. It alows us to create a
blueprint for each individual’s needs and our
prescription is objective and exact in attacking
KEVIN KIKUGAWA
weaknesses and asymetries.”
Head Football Athletic Trainer
University of Arizona

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

KT360, a validated and

efficient way to measure
isometric strength
KangaTech’s KT360 allows you to proactively • Comprehensive suite of protocols:
manage and improve athlete strength and 50+ testing and training protocols with
performance, better understand injury risk methods for control, strength, pain
and guides the prescription of exercise and modulation, endurance and time under
load related interventions. tension, and the ability to test a range of
With targeted testing and training, real- modifiable risk factors across the body
time biofeedback, and advanced analytics., • Exceptional user experience: KT360
KangaTech supports you in the following: software provides a gamified experience
• Engineered for performance: 7 load cells for users and delivers real-time alert-
with both push and pull functionality and based analysis based on athlete history,
up to 200kg measurement capacity. Pin current results and progression.
free height adjustment and an Onboard • Sport-specific athlete profiling:
Goniometer for 1° incremental sensor Normative datasets provide insight into
adjustment where athletes sit from a performance
• Award winning design: 360° Sensor and injury risk perspective
unit rotation, housed within a • Durable & portable: Optional military
counterweighted unit designed for grade travel case designed for maximum
increased stability and more accurate protection & portability
results. Additional padding & moveable For more information, contact
matting provides superior athlete comfort [email protected].

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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH

“The KT360 helps us in evaluating the post-

match state of the muscles and that way provides
us some additional measures for the decision-
making process regarding load management of
ARNE JASPERS
the players.”
Sport Scientist
Royal Belgian Football Association

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Risk, Readiness, Return
KANGATECH.COM

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