The muscle groups of the back, legs, and chest are some of the most important, and often times most injured, muscles in the human body. Not only do we extensively use these muscles as part of our activities of daily living, but they are also integral to the vast number of labor and skilled labor jobs. Any activity that requires lifting, bending, carrying, pushing, and pulling of objects, or positioning the body and limbs to reach an object requires the coordinated effort of these muscle groups.
The Importance of Performing Back, Leg, and Chest (and Arm) Dynamometry
The ability to evaluate a person’s capability and capacity to successfully complete an acute task or group of tasks overtime (job task analysis and functional capacity evaluation) provides an important screening function to properly match the employee (or job applicant) to the job requirements. An employer would never want to place an employee in a position to fail because their physical abilities were insufficient for the required elements of the job.
Further, should an employee become injured while on the job, a valuable human resource is hindered or entirely prevented in his/her ability to perform a variety of the tasks inherent in the job. The ability to assess the deficit, establish a baseline, and measure the impact of therapeutic interventions (physical and occupational therapy) overtime in determining when an employee (or athlete, or individual) can safely return to performing the tasks of any specific job.
Common Tests Performed Using a Back, Leg, and Chest Dynamometer
The uniqueness of this combination dynamometer allows for these common isometric/static contraction tests.
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Arm Lift: the measurement of a person’s capability of lift objects upward and carry objects out in front of them, using the arm elbow flexor muscle group and scapular stabilizer muscles.
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Leg Lift: the measurement of the combined force of leg muscles (gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, and gastrocsoleus complex) in performing lifting activities with the back kept mostly upright during the lift.
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Torso Lift: the measurement of the force of the back muscles (primarily the erector spinae muscle group) in performing lifting activities where the individual is required to bend at the hips and left with the back.
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Floor Lift: the measurement of the leg and back muscles working together to pull an object upward from ground level. |
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High Near Lift: the measurement of the arm (elbow flexors) and shoulder flexor muscles ability to lift an object upward that is being kept near to the body. |
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High Far Lift: the measurement of the arm (elbow flexors) and shoulder flexor muscles ability to lift an object upward that is being kept further to the body, in comparison to the High Near Lift. |
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Additional Features and Benefits of a Back/Leg/Chest Dynamometer
- The device itself provides a platform base for secure footing
- Chain length is adjusted to accommodate for height differences or to vary the point of force application
- Devices measure tension in both pounds and kilograms
- Test results remain on the gauge until the device is reset making data capture easy
- Provides a safe mode of testing while delivering maximum strength values without the risk of lifting heavy free weights
Shop ProhealthcareProducts.com for several different Back, Legs, Chest Dynamometers for testing adults and youth.