Maximum strength testing

Maximum strength is the maximum force exerted from the neuromuscular system and is found out using the simple 1 rep max law, which is to do a strength exercise that tests the muscle group and to increase the resistance until the performer can only manage 1 rep. We tested the maximum strength of our calves, quadriceps, chest, and hamstrings using a range of exercises. To test our calves we used standing calf raises in which I scored 67.5, the downfall of this test was that the equipment allocated did not have a high enough resistance to accurately achieve our 1 rep max To test the maximum strength of our chest we used the core exercise of the bench press, in which I achieved 100kg, compared with the other members of the study I scored a strong score, indicating that the maximum strength in my chest is higher than average.

To test the maximum strength of my quadriceps we used the leg curl exercise in which I performed 130kg, however, like the calf raise exercise we did not have sufficient equipment to fully test my 1 rep max, however I believe that even if we had the sufficient equipment my one rep max would have not been beyond 140/150 kg. To test our hamstrings we used the leg curl exercise, this required flexion of the hamstring group. On this test I performed 47.5 kg. In conclusion and analysis of my results I can depict that I have a relatively higher than average maximum strength on some exercises than the rest of the class, and on others my maximum strength is in the upper band. This may be down to several factors such as my genetics providing me with a higher ratio of fast glycolytic fibres which are very helpful in performing maximum strength movements.

Explosive strength
This is the ability to overcome a resistance with a high speed contraction, this can be seen in events such as sprinting, where a high percentage of fast glycolytic fibres are required for best results. For this type of strength we used the vertical jump test. The protocol of this test was relatively simple, making it easy to be performed universally. We had to jump as high as possible adjacent to a wall and mark on the wall with a marker the highest point we reached with our arm. We then measured the difference in our standing highest point with our arm outstretched on the wall. The difference measured would then be the score acquired for this test. I scored 43cm on the vertical jump test, which was around the average score line within the group. In conclusion this test is good because it has a relatively simple protocol to follow, making it reliable in testing and the comparison of data easy and non-subjective. However it is a relatively lower body orientated test, meaning if an upper body specialised performer were to undergo the test than the results would be inaccurate.

Static flexibility
Is the range of movement around a joint, and to test this we performed the sit and reach test. This test is aimed specifically at the hamstring group. The protocol of this test was to place our feet (barefoot) against the box with our legs straight, we then reached as far as possible with a ruler as a marker with our fingertips. I scored 26 cm in this test. From this table you can see I have very basic static strength around the hamstring muscle group.

In conclusion I believe that several other static flexibility tests have to be conducted in order to gain an accurate result, due to the sheer number of other muscle groups in the body, performing a test for a specific muscle group is not representative for the performers general static flexibility. However the test is relatively simple to perform making repeating the experiment easy to conduct making progress analysis easy to achieve.