Validity of the Myotest® in Measuring Force and Power Production in the Squat and Bench Press

Comstock, BA, Solomon-Hill, G, Flanagan, SD, Earp, JE, Luk, H-Y, Dobbins, KA, Dunn-Lewis, C, Fragala, MS, Ho, J-Y, Hatfield, DL, Vingren, JL, Denegar, CR, Volek, JS, Kupchak, BR, Maresh, CR, and Kraemer, WJ. Validity of the myotest® in measuring force and power production in the squat and bench press. J Strength Cond Res 25(8): 2293-2297, 2011—The purpose of this study was to verify the concurrent validity of a bar-mounted Myotest® instrument in measuring the force and power production in the squat and bench press exercises when compared to the gold standard of a computerized linear transducer and force platform system. Fifty-four men (bench press: 39-171 kg; squat: 75-221 kg) and 43 women (bench press: 18-80 kg; squat: 30-115 kg) (age range 18-30 years) performed a 1 repetition maximum (1RM) strength test in bench press and squat exercises. Power testing consisted of the jump squat and the bench throw at 30% of each subject's 1RM. During each measurement, both the Myotest® instrument and the Celesco linear transducer of the directly interfaced BMS system (Ballistic Measurement System [BMS] Innervations Inc, Fitness Technology force plate, Skye, South Australia, Australia) were mounted to the weight bar. A strong, positive correlation (r) between the Myotest and BMS systems and a high correlation of determination (R2) was demonstrated for bench throw force (r = 0.95, p < 0.05) (R2 = 0.92); bench throw power (r = 0.96, p < 0.05) (R2 = 0.93); squat jump force (r = 0.98, p < 0.05) (R2 = 0.97); and squat jump power (r = 0.91, p < 0.05) (R2 = 0.82). In conclusion, when fixed on the bar in the vertical axis, the Myotest is a valid field instrument for measuring force and power in commonly used exercise movements.