Scoping Review of the Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull Performance Relationship to Dynamic Sport Performance Assessments

Abstract

Attempting to understand on-field sport performance from dynamic performance tests of athleticism (i.e., sprinting, jumping, strength) is common practice in sport. In recent years, the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) has gained popularity in the sport performance community as an assessment tool. This scoping review examined the relationship of the IMTP to common dynamic sports assessments to evaluate the robustness of the IMTP to profile lower body force production characteristics. The literature search was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Articles were selected from 5 electronic databases. Data was extracted and synthesized to evaluate the reported relationships between IMTP and common dynamic sport performance assessments. Forty-eight publications were identified and included in the review. Articles reviewed were all within the past 25 years with most (66.7%) published within the past 5 years. Multiple researchers utilized the IMTP across numerous sports and generally reported consistent results. Strong correlations (41.8% of reported, r = 0.71 to 1.00) between the IMTP and the dynamic sport performance assessments were found. The available evidence suggests the IMTP is a viable option for practitioners and researchers to use to profile athletic ability. Furthermore, based on the publication year of included articles, IMTP research is relatively young and warrants further investigation.