A comparison of a true measure of leg muscular power as determined by a photo-electric system to five conventionally used tests of leg muscular power

Pardy, Ralph Dorman Wayne. (1976) A comparison of a true measure of leg muscular power as determined by a photo-electric system to five conventionally used tests of leg muscular power. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This study was done to determine the validity of five conventionally used tests of leg muscular power, namely, the Modified Vertical Jump, Standing Broad Jump, Ten Yard Sprint with Five Yard Running Start, Fifty Yard Sprint with Five Yard Running Start, and Bicycle Ergometer Speed Test. The criterion measure of leg muscular power which enabled the researcher to determine the validity of the conventional tests by statistically determining their relationship to the criterion measure was a mechanical device with a photo-electric timing system. This technique supplied the necessary information to determine the power output using the physical sciences' formula for that entity. -- The sample (N = 42) was subjected to each of the five conventional tests as well as the criterion measure. In addition to these tests, the age and weight of each subject was obtained. -- Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients were employed in the statistical analysis of the data. Insignificant correlations were obtained between the criterion measure of leg power and each of the five conventional tests of leg power. However, when the five conventional tests were compared to power per pound body weight, the correlation coefficients were significantly higher than those obtained from the comparision of each of the conventional tests to the total maximum power, but, these too remained insignificant at the .01 level. It was also found that the average maximum power output occured at 45 percent of the subject's maximum lift, however, the optimum point ranged between 29 percent and 53 percent. -- It was concluded that, (1) the conventionally used tests of leg power were not valid measures for determining the subject's power output; (2) the five conventional tests were better indicators of power per pound body weight than they were indicators of the total maximum power output, however, the correlation coefficients were still insignificant and therefore did not justify the use of these tests to determine the ability of the legs to develop power, and (3) the average optimum load which yielded the maximum power output was 45 percent of the subject's maximum lift.

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