The arm configuration at the point of peak dynamic pull strength

Abstract This study examines the effects of velocity and starting position of pull on the configuration of the arm at the point at which peak maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) pull strenght is achived. Ten males performed 15 different isokinetic pulls each, defined by 5 starting positions of the arm in the saggital plane and 3 pull velocities for each position. Some restrictive conditions were applied to body posture and arm motions to facilitate biomechanical analyses of the results. All subjects were tested while seated. The results indicated that pull strength depended strongly on the starting position of the arm and velocity of pull. The angular configuration of the arm at peak strength position was unaffected by the starting position of the arm. This suggests that there may be an optimal arm configuration for dynamic (or even static) pull strength. For each tested velocity of pull, a different optimal configuration was found. Peak strengths attained have been explained by biomechanical principles, but the optimal arm configuration cannot yet be explained in the same way. The empirical relationships are, however, significant