title: Reliability of a novel testing protocol to assess upper-body strength qualities in elite athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of an isometric-bench-press (IBP) test performed across 4 elbow angles and a ballistic bench throw (BBT) using a relative load, as well as evaluating the reliability of the dynamic strength index (DSI: BBT peak force/IBP peak force).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four elite male athletes performed the IBP and a 45% 1-repetition-maximum BBT on 2 separate days with 48 h between testing occasions. Peak force, peak power, peak velocity, peak displacement, and peak rate of force development (PRFD) were assessed using a force plate and linear position transducer. Reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation (ICC), coefficient of variation (%CV) and typical error.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Performance measures in the BBT, such as peak force, peak velocity, peak power, and peak displacement, were considered reliable (ICC = .85-.92, %CV = 1.7-3.3), while PRFD was not (ICC = .43, %CV = 4.1). Similarly, for the IBP, peak force across all angles was considered reliable (ICC = .89-.97, %CV = 1.2-1.6), while PRFD was not (ICC = .56-.65, %CV = 0.5-7.6). The DSI was also reliable (ICC = .93, %CV = 3.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performance measures such as peak force in the IBP and BBT are reliable when assessing upper-body pressing-strength qualities in elite male athletes. Furthermore, the DSI is reliable and could potentially be used to detect qualities of relative deficiency and guide specific training interventions.
authors: Strength and Conditioning Dept, Canadian Sport Inst Pacific, Victoria, BC, Canada.
authors: Kieran P
authors: KP
authors: Young
authors: G Gregory
authors: GG
authors: Haff
authors: Robert U
authors: RU
authors: Newton
authors: Jeremy M
authors: JM
authors: Sheppard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D055815:Young Adult