Influence of Static Strength and Intramuscular Occlusion on Submaximal Static Muscle Endurance

Abstract

Males (N = 49), age 17 to 33 yr, served as subjects for the study which investigated the relationship between static strength and submaximal, static muscle endurance of the grip squeezing muscles. The percentages of maximal static strength used for the endurance tests were 30%, 45%, 60%, and 75% with local circulation to the muscles intact and artificially occluded by a pressure cuff. Two groups, a high strength group and a low strength group, were formed based on the mean maximal strength of the subjects. The differences between groups with respect to endurance performance under the two conditions at the 4 percentage levels were tested with univariate ANOVAS. Significant negative correlations were noted between static strength and endurance time for each treatment. The critical occluding tension level was found to be 60% maximal voluntary contractile strength (MVC) for low strength individuals as compared to 45% MVC for high strength individuals. The endurance time of the low strength group was significantly greater than that of the high strength group at the lower tension levels. In contrast, the force output of the high strength was greater than that of the low strength group at the lower tension levels. The negative relationship between static strength and endurance time may be a function of the larger degree of intramuscular occlusion and greater force output of high strength individuals at the lower tension levels.