Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1987

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Physical Education

First Advisor

Jack Ewing

Abstract

The study was conducted in the spring semester of 1986 at South Dakota State University. Twenty-nine college-age males and 21 college age females, who were recruited from the university Fitness and Lifetime Activities Program, read and signed an informed consent form prior to any participation in testing sessions. Testing sessions were approximately 20 minutes in length. Two familiarization sessions were completed by each subject and any questions were answered. A warm-up stationary bicycle at a work load of 75 watts for five minutes. Following the warm-up the subjects were seated on the Orthotron II bench and stabilized by straps. They then performed five submaximal contractions to familiarize them with the testing speeds. Each subject was given a one minute rest following the five submaximal contractions. The subjects were instructed to elicit two successive maximal isokinetic contractions of the right quadricep muscles at speeds of 3, 30, and 60 degrees per second with a 90 second rest between speeds. The testing speeds were randomly assigned. Peak torques and torque/time relationships were recorded utilizing the hardware interface developed by Isotechnologies, Inc. and were analyzed with an IBM Personal Computer using the Isoscan Software also developed by Isotechnologies, Inc. Significance of the Study Studies examining rate of force development of males and females by means of isometric contractions are numerous but confusing regarding how fast one is able to attain a given percentage of their peak force (Komi & Karlsson 1978; Kearney & Stull 1981; Ewing & Stull 1984). Research is limited when investigating peak torques and the rate of torque development by isokinetic contraction. This study contributes to our understanding of this type of dynamic muscle contraction while examining torque/time relationships between males and females. Questions have been raised as to whether females can generate peak force as quickly as males. Since no studies have been published comparing males and females while performing isokinetic contractions to determine torque/time relationships, more studies need to be conducted to clearly identify differences and similarities between the sexes while eliciting this type of dynamic muscle contraction. The following study was designed to add to our knowledge of understanding the similarities and differences in isokinetic muscle contraction between males and females.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Muscle strength

Physical fitness for men

Physical fitness for women

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

72

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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