title: Reliability of externally fixed dynamometry hamstring strength testing in elite youth football players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate inter and intra-tester reliability of an externally fixed dynamometry unilateral hamstring strength test, in the elite sports setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reliability study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen, injury-free, elite male youth football players (age=16.81±0.54 years, height=180.22±5.29cm, weight 73.88±6.54kg, BMI=22.57±1.42) gave written informed consent. Unilateral maximum isometric peak hamstring force was evaluated by externally fixed dynamometry for inter-tester, intra-day and intra-tester, inter-week reliability. The test position was standardised to correlate with the terminal swing phase of the gait running cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inter and intra-tester values demonstrated good to high levels of reliability. The intra-class coefficient (ICC) for inter-tester, intra-day reliability was 0.87 (95% CI=0.75-0.93) with standard error of measure percentage (SEM%) 4.7 and minimal detectable change percentage (MDC%) 12.9. Intra-tester, inter-week reliability results were ICC 0.86 (95% CI, 0.74-0.93), SEM% 5.0 and MDC% 14.0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates good to high inter and intra-tester reliability of isometric externally fixed dynamometry unilateral hamstring strength testing in the regular elite sport setting involving elite male youth football players. The intra-class coefficient in association with the low standard error of measure and minimal detectable change percentages suggest that this procedure is appropriate for clinical and academic use as well as monitoring hamstring strength in the elite sport setting.
authors: Department of Physical Therapies, Australian Institute of Sport, Australia. Electronic address: martin.wollin@ausport.gov.au.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Wollin
authors: Department of Physical Therapies, Australian Institute of Sport, Australia; University of Canberra, Australia.
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Purdam
authors: Department of Physical Therapies, Australian Institute of Sport, Australia; University of Canberra, Australia.
authors: Michael K
authors: MK
authors: Drew
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Dynamometry; Hamstring; Reliability; Soccer