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RELIABILITY AND VARIABILITY OF ONE-REPETITION MAXIMUM TESTS IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Abstract

PURPOSE: We investigated the reliability and variability the of the one-repetition maximum(1-RM) test for the two-leg press and knee extension exercises performed by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. METHODS: Thirteen people with a confirmed diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS volunteered and attended the laboratory on 3 separate occasions. The first visit consisted of consenting and filling out standardized forms and questionnaires. During visits 2 and 3, participants completed two bilateral 1-RM tests for the lower body which included the dual leg press (LP) and knee extension (KE) exercises, respectively, in accordance with the guidelines established by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)for determining 1-RM’s.The 1-RM was considered the last repetition completed with proper form through a full range of motion and the 1-RM for each participant was found within 3 to 5 attempts. There was a minimum 3 min rest between the LP and the KE exercises. Inter day differences were assessed using paired t test and data reliability was determined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and test-retest reliability estimates, based on an absolute agreement, two-way mixed-effects model. Coefficients of variations (%CV) were calculated to determine data variability. RESULTS: The single and average ICC measures for LP were 0.86 (CI95= 0.28–0.93) and 0.92 (CI95= 0.43–0.98), respectively, and 0.90 (CI95=0.71–0.97) and 0.95 (CI95=0.83–0.98) respectively, for KE. 1-RM load significantly (t=3.61, p=0.004) increased from day one (D1) to day two (D2) for LP (Δ%=10.36%; D1=100.72kg±27.95kgvs. D2=111.15kg±24.28kg); however, no significant (t=0.41, p=0.68) inter days differences were observed for KE (Δ%=1.20%; D1=49.82kg±11.47 kg vs. D2=50.42kg±10.83kg). Finally, the %CV for the LP and KE tests were 24.65% and 22.24, respectively. CONCLUSION: Greater reliability was observed for the KE 1-RM test compared to the LP 1-RM. Thus, the reliability of the lower-body 1-RM test in MS patients varies across different exercises. Multiple 1-RM tests should be performed for an accurate maximal strength measure in MS patients, since 1-RM values display large variability (>10%) and may increase depending on the exercise in question.

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