The effect of elbow angle on the isometric strength and endurance of the elbow flexors in men and women.

Ten male and ten female volunteers served as subjects in these experiments to determine the effect of elbow angle on isometric strength of the biceps muscles and on the ability to sustain an isometric tension to fatigue (endurance). As reported by others, we found that for each individual, there existed one elbow angle at which he or she could exert his greatest isometric strength. When maintaining an absolute work load to fatigue, exercise at this angle resulted in the longest endurance; in contrast, endurance was the same at any work load relative to the maximum strength for a given elbow angle.