COMPARING AND CONTRASTING TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE MUSCULAR FITNESS TESTING

Abstract

Muscular fitness is a key component of health, and its accurate assessment is crucial. Due to developments in the field of fitness, there is an increasing need to explore new testing methods tailored to specific conditions and demographic groups. This pilot study focuses on the correlation between traditional and innovative muscular fitness tests, emphasizing their substitutability in a healthy adult population. The study compares established tests such as handgrip strength, push-ups, sit-ups, and standing long jump with innovative tests, specifically dynamometry for assessing the back and legs, squats, and medicine ball throws. The research sample included healthy males and females (n = 36) with an average age of 21.3 years. Correlational analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed a significant positive correlation between handgrip strength and dynamometry of the back and legs (r = 0.842, p < 0.01), suggesting that these tests assess complementary aspects of muscular strength. Similarly, the medicine ball throw showed a strong correlation with handgrip strength (r = 0.805, p < 0.01), indicating its effectiveness in assessing explosive strength. In contrast, squats showed a weak correlation with traditional endurance tests, such as sit-ups (r = 0.125, p > 0.05), indicating the involvement of different muscle groups and aspects of endurance. The identified correlations highlight the complex nature of muscular fitness, where innovative tests may only partially replace traditional methods. However, further research with larger and more diverse samples is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.