Evaluation of isokinetic muscle performance.

The development and availability of isokinetic testing equipment, recording systems, and systems for computer analysis have improved the quality and quantity of information about specific skeletal muscle performance. The value of both isokinetic exercise and instrumentation designed to objectively record muscle performance characteristics is becoming more widely recognized, especially by professional members of the sports medicine community. The present demand for appropriate equipment is high and new instrumentation for this purpose is being developed. Current instrumentation continues to be modified and improved. The information gained from carefully designed testing protocols is useful and necessary for understanding the role of specific muscle groups in athletic performance and for determining the readiness of the athlete to resume training or competition following injury or deconditioning. With expanded profile data about the muscle performance characteristics of various categories of athletes, training or rehabilitation programs may be adapted to meet the strength, speed, and endurance requirements of a given sport, which may enhance the quality of participation and prevent the occurrence of injury or reinjury.