Isotonic Assessment

The isotonic tests, with or without load, allows to acquire qualitative and quantitative data about the execution of the entire movement.

ISOTONIC TESTS
- Progressive load
- FVR Test
- Power Test
- Work Test
- Elasticity Test

1 - Progressive load: this is the most complete and demanding isotonic test.

It is usually performed reaching the maximum load supportable by subject.
It allows to establish the maximum power and load that produces the maximum power. In this way it is possible to determine the optimum loads to program a specific training. 

An advanced analysis enables to establish with extreme precision:
- The Force/Speed Ratio
- The Speed/Power Ratio

2 - FVR Test: this is a simplified procedure to define the Force/Speed ratio. 

With a minimum of 3 series, this method enables to graphically draw up the measurement results. 
Also the Isometric Maximum Force (MFI) and maximum speed (VM) are established.  

It is necessary to enter a first load  such as to prevent the subject to exceed the 1m/s of speed;
the subsequent loads are automatically proposed by the program on the bases of the achieved results during the test.

Only one repetition at a maximum speed is performed for each series.

3 - Power Test: this is an alternative to the FVR to calculate the maximum power

It is sufficient to perform 3 series to find the load corresponding to the maximum developed power. For each series at least  four repetitions should be carried out among them the best repetition is automatically selected.
For each series the loads are entered following the below principle:
Test with 3 series: loads must be equal to the 33%, 50% and 80% of MFI. 

4 - Work Test: it's a procedure to monitor the course of the post-injury recovery. 

By means of the comparison between the healthy and injured limb, you can graphically visualize the unbalance state.
These information are very important for the therapist who can have an objective method to check the recovery phase. 
The load value should approximately be equal to the 40% of MFI. The injured limb start the test performing the maximum possible number of repetitions (at least 6).
Then the same number of repetitions has to be performed by the healthy limb. 

Then will be obtained the comparison between the two limbs of FORCE, SPEED, POWER and WORK parameters

5 - Elasticity Test: this test allows the evaluation of elastic qualities of muscle.

This evaluation occurs in the first milliseconds subsequent to the movement inversion.
In this way it is possible to calculate the difference between the first repetition (only performed by the contractile muscle component), and the subsequent repetition  (exclusively performed after a stretching-shortening cycle).
The same movement should be carried out by the subject , without interruption and it automatically stops when one of the subsequent repetitions presents the same spatial development.
Stop is signalled by the program. 

The test indicates the percentage of returning of the elasticity energy on the bases of Speed, Force and power parameters.