Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull

IMTP is a strength based test used to assess lower body maximal force output and rate of force development (RFD), and it has been shown to have a high correlation with athletic movements like jumping and sprinting. This can be used as both a diagnostic or training tool.

About:
The Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull is a strength based test used to assess the maximal force output and rate of force development (RFD), impulse, and force at specific time intervals. To perform the IMTP test, the athlete should adopt a position that resembles the start of an RDL (if paused at the thigh) or the second pull of an olympic lift. With a neutral spine, hips flexed (hinged), arms extended (hanging), grasping a bar fixed - either using a specialized platform with a strap fixed in between the force plates (pictured) or against the safety pins of a squat rack - at mid-thigh height, the athlete will be asked to maximally push through the ground as fast as possible.

Results of the IMTP are highly correlated with dynamic and explosive movement (i.e., jumping, sprinting, etc.), making it a useful diagnostic tool to identify deficits in maximal strength vs explosive strength (e.g., Dynamic Strength Index). Additionally, because the IMTP test has a high test-retest reliability, is relatively non-fatiguing, can be performed multiple days in a row, and has a low injury risk, it is a logical alternative to traditional 1 RM tests and even monitor daily readiness.

References:
[1] Brady, C. J., Harrison, A. J., & Comyns, T. M. (2020). A review of the reliability of biomechanical variables produced during the isometric mid-thigh pull and isometric squat and the reporting of normative data. Sports Biomechanics, 19(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2018.1452968
[2] Thomas, C., Comfort, P., Chiang, C.-Y., & A. Jones, P. (2015). Relationship between isometric mid-thigh pull variables and sprint and change of direction performance in collegiate athletes. Journal of Trainology, 4(1), 6–10. https://doi.org/10.17338/trainology.4.1_6
[3] West, D. J., Owen, N. J., Jones, M. R., Bracken, R. M., Cook, C. J., Cunningham, D. J., Shearer, D. A., Finn, C. V., Newton, R. U., Crewther, B. T., & Kilduff, L. P. (2011). Relationships Between Force–Time Characteristics of the Isometric Midthigh Pull and Dynamic Performance in Professional Rugby League Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(11), 3070–3075. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318212dcd5