CSULA Octathlon "Strength"

Cal State LA Administration/Faculty/Staff
Health- and Skill-Related Fitness Octathlon

May 21, 1998, 2:30-5:30 p.m.

"MUSCULAR STRENGTH"

Muscular strength is a health-related fitness component that is defined as the maximal resistance that a muscle or muscle group can overcome in one attempt. Muscular strength is a fitness component that is closely associated with the "muscular endurance" fitness component. Muscular endurance is defined as the maximal amount of repetitions (work) that a muscle or muscle group can perform against submaximal resistance.

Activity Description

Objective: Holding a hand grip dynamometer, close your fist as hard as you can.

Hand Grip Test Procedures:

Select a hand grip dynamometer that allows you to place your dominant hand's middle phalanges (middle finger bones) on the far end of the bottom grip bar.

While keeping elbow bent at ~90 degrees with arm extended a few inches away from trunk, squeeze fist as hard as you can and hold for a few seconds (do not swing or change position of elbow and/or any other body part).

The reading in pounds (to the closest pound) representing the best of three attempts will be recorded and added to the team's Hand Grip performance score

Hand Grip Dynamometer Test Rules:

Participants may switch hands as long as they do not exceed the three-trial maximum rule (the best reading counts regardless of dominant hand performance).
Attempts during which the elbow and or any other body part moved will have to be repeated (a third illigal attempt will result in disqualification).
Once all team members completed the rotation, participants (new team members are welcome) may retake the Hand Grip Test until it is time to proceed to the next activity.

Hand Grip Fitness Classification Table

**Adapted from Hoeger & Hoeger, 1994, p.126**
Best Score in pounds	Fitness Classification
81 or greater	Sport Performance
60-80	Good Health
41-60	Healthy
21-40	To improve, squeeze hard and hold a tennis or racketball in your fist several times per day, two- to three-times per week.
21-40	Enroll in the Personnel Fitness Program

A team may repeat this event as many times as possible within the allocated 10-12 minute station activity time frame. It is legal to use substitutes during a second, third...etc. trial. The best complete performance by any one coherent group of 4 men and 4 women per team will be added to that team's overall Fitness Octathlon performance score.

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