Test–retest reliability of lower limb muscle strength, jump and sprint performance tests in elite female team handball players

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2024-09, Vol.124 (9), p.2577-2589
• Main Authors: Fristrup, Bjørn, Krustrup, Peter, Kristensen, Kevin Højer, Rasmussen, Steffen, Aagaard, Per
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Athletes; Athletic Performance - physiology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Exercise Test - methods; Exercise Test - standards; Female; Human Physiology; Humans; Knee; Lower Extremity - physiology; Muscle contraction; Muscle strength; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original; Original Article; Reproducibility; Reproducibility of Results; Running - physiology; Sports Medicine; Team handball; Torque; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-024-05470-x

Purpose This study aimed to assess the reliability of lower limb muscle function (knee extensor/flexor peak torque, rate of torque development (RTD), impulse, and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance) and sprint performance (acceleration capacity). Methods CMJ performance was evaluated on a force plate. MVIC, RTD and impulse variables were investigated using a portable isometric dynamometer and sprint performance was assessed with dual-beam photocells in elite female athletes. Results CMJ test variables maximal vertical jump height, peak and mean power, concentric work, and body center of mass displacement demonstrated good-to-excellent test–retest correlations between Test 1 and Test 2 (ICC ≥ 0.70, CW w-s  = 3.4–11.0%). Peak MVIC torque for the knee extensors and flexors demonstrated excellent test–retest correlations (both ICC = 0.84) along with CV w-s values of 6.8 and 6.0%, respectively. Late-phase (0–100 ms, 0–200 ms) RTD for the knee flexors demonstrated excellent test–retest correlations (ICC = 0.89–0.91, CV w-s  = 4.8–8.5%). Sprint times at 10- and 20-m demonstrated excellent test–retest reproducibility (ICC = 0.83 and ICC = 0.90, respectively) with CV w-s values of 1.9 and 1.5%. For 5-m sprint times, test–retest reproducibility was good (ICC = 0.71) with CV w-s of 2.8%. Sprint testing performed while dribbling a handball improved ( p