A PILOT STUDY COMPARING THE TRADITIONAL BAR GRIP AND THE PELVIC BELT METHODS TO MEASURE MID-THIGH ISOMETRIC PULL PERFORMANCE IN COLLEGIATE MALE ATHLETES

Authors

M Amitay
S Spinache
KR Hutchinson
IM Neall
VB Batchelor
SK Crowley
JR Hoffman, FACSM
M Magal, FACSM

Abstract

Matan Amitay¹, Snejana Spinache¹, Kelsey R. Hutchinson¹, Isabel M. Neall¹, Vanessa B. Batchelor¹, Shannon K. Crowley¹, Jay R. Hoffman, FACSM², Meir Magal, FACSM¹. ¹North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, NC. ²Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.

BACKGROUND: The isometric mid-thigh pull test (IMTP) is an effective and reliable method to measure maximal strength in various populations. Using portable force plates, one study compared a bar grip method and a pelvic belt method of the IMTP test and demonstrated a good test-retest reliability. This study, however, only provided limited performance information. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the bar grip (Bar) method and the pelvic belt (Pel) method and provide more in-depth force generation performance data. METHODS: Ten male collegiate athletes (mean ± SD): age (19.9 ± 1.2 yrs); body weight (72.90 ± 8.24 kg); height (1.77 ± 0.06 m); BMI (23.14 ± 2.05 kg∙m^-2) volunteered to participate in the study. IMTP testing data included peak force, relative peak force, peak force relative to body weight and force at various times in milliseconds. RESULTS: Significant and large effect size differences were observed between the groups for peak force (Bar: 1966.50 ± 292.36; Pel: 2658.30 ± 630.58 N, p < 0.01, d = -1.34), relative peak force, (Bar: 27.33 ± 5.48; Pel: 36.94 ± 9.73 N∙kg^-1, p < 0.01, d = -1.33) and peak force relative to body weight (Bar: 221.60 ± 52.37; Pel: 291.80 ± 81.78 %, p < 0.01, d = -1.03) Peak force at 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 milliseconds were not significantly different (p > 0.05) and displayed moderate, small, trivial, small and moderate effect size (d), respectively and between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that utilizing the Pel method to perform the IMTP test yields higher absolute and relative peak force values. Further, these changes seem to be associated with the extent of the relative involvement of the lower and the upper extremities in each of the methods.

Recommended Citation

Amitay, M; Spinache, S; Hutchinson, KR; Neall, IM; Batchelor, VB; Crowley, SK; Hoffman, FACSM, JR; and Magal, FACSM, M (2023) "A PILOT STUDY COMPARING THE TRADITIONAL BAR GRIP AND THE PELVIC BELT METHODS TO MEASURE MID-THIGH ISOMETRIC PULL PERFORMANCE IN COLLEGIATE MALE ATHLETES," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 16: Iss. 2, Article 343.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol16/iss2/343