The dynamic strength index is a reliable and feasible tool to assess neuromuscular performance in male and female handball players

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to explore the reliability and feasibility of the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and dynamic strength index (DSI) in semi-professional handball players (seventeen male and eighteen female). A cross-sectional design was used to determine the test-retest reliability of several kinetic metrics registered with a force plates. The peak force, peak relative force, rate of force development (RFD _{0–250 ms}), and impulse _{0–250 ms} were selected from the IMTP test, whereas the peak propulsive force was chosen from the countermovement jump test to obtain the DSI. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV), standard error of the measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable difference (SDD) were calculated. A paired sample t-test was also performed. No significant differences were found between the testing sessions for all variables, except for peak propulsive force for all players (p = 0.036) and DSI for female players (p = 0.037). Reliability for all kinetic metrics was good to excellent (ICC = 0.78–0.97), with low variability (CV ≤ 8.64%), being the SEM scores lower than SDD. In conclusion, the IMTP test and DSI are highly reliable and feasible tools for assessing neuromuscular performance in semi-professional handball players.

KEYWORDS:

• Peak force
• rate of force development
• isometric mid-thigh pull
• vertical jump
• force plates

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the players for their participation and their technical staffs for permitting the collection and use of the data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Vice-Rectorate for Research, Science and Doctoral Studies, at the University Camilo José Cela.