Muscular strength and endurance tests: reliability and prediction of one repetition maximum – Review and new evidences

An increasing demand for resistance training-RT (weight lifting) has fostered the need for well-established exerciseprescription parameters. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends RT to be included in a physical fitness program for adults1 and the elderly2. Its recommendations include, at least, one set of 8-10 exercises for the main muscle groups, with a frequency of 2-3 times a week. There should be 8-12 repetitions for each exercise, and for the elderly and most frail subjects, 10-15 repetitions may be more appropriate1. In a recent position stand on progression models in RT3, ACSM addressed in more detail the training related variables, but some evidences are still scarce or contradictory. Maximum strength is the maximum capability of a muscle or muscle group to generate tension. It is often measured by the one repetition maximum test (1RM – also called one execution maximum), which is operationally defined as the heaviest load that can be moved over a specific range of motion, one time and with correct performance. Muscular endurance tests are those in which a number of repetitions are performed with submaximal loads. Maximal, or even submaximal strength tests are rarely used for exercise prescription in clubs and gyms, perhaps because they are operationally complicated and time-consuming. Training prescription is usually based on a theoretical percentage of the maximum, as the 1RM is hardly performed. It is thus likely that 1RM values are under or overestimated, which causes the prescription to be under or over dimensioned. Strength tests are applied mainly in scientific investigation, in cases when one has to know the subjects’ preand post-training strength, and for prescribing the research training protocol. 1. Centro de Pesquisas Interdisciplinares em Saúde e Programa de Pós-graduação em Educação Física da Universidade Gama Filho, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.