Relatioship Between Pelvic Belt Mid-Thigh Isometricpull And Countermovement Jump In Collegiate Athletes

The isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) test using the traditional bar grip (Bar) is a reliable and effective way to measure strength performance in different populations. In addition, IMTP performance has been linked to jump performance. Recent research has shown that the pelvic belt (Pel) IMTP method produces higher absolute and relative peak force values than the Bar IMTP method. However, there is limited data on the relationship between Pel IMTP and jump performance. PURPOSE: To investigate the association between Pel IMTP force, power performance, and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. METHODS: Thirty men and women collegiate athletes (mean ± SD): age (20.0 ± 1.2 y); body weight (69.36 ± 10.13 kg); height (1.71 ± 0.10 m); BMI (23.60 ± 2.61 kg*m-2) volunteered to participate in the study. The order of the performance testing was randomized, occurred on different days, and included the IMTP Pel peak and relative peak force, CMJ jump height, peak relative eccentric and concentric force, and relative eccentric and concentric power. RESULTS: Significant (p < 0.05) relationships were observed between IMTP Pel peak force and relative peak force and CMJ jump height (r = 0.55 and 0.39, respectively) and CMJ peak relative concentric force (r = 0.44 and 0.39, respectively). In addition, significant (p < 0.05) relationships were also observed between IMTP Pel peak force and CMJ peak relative eccentric force (r = 0.37), peak relative eccentric power (r = 0.43), and peak relative concentric power (r = 0.57). The correlations between IMTP Pel relative peak force and CMJ peak relative eccentric force, peak relative eccentric power, and peak relative concentric power were insignificant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that in this population and similar to the Bar IMTP, there is a link between Pel IMTP (static) and CMJ (dynamic) performance. Further, the data suggest that this relationship is not necessarily body weight dependent.