Abstract
This 2023 multicenter study by Rodriguez-Perea et al., published in Healthcare (Basel), evaluated the reliability of using a functional electromechanical dynamometer (FEMD) to measure trunk rotation strength. The study tested two exercises, Horizontal Cable Woodchop (HCW) and Low Cable Woodchop (LCW), across 51 participants. Results indicated that HCW is the most reliable exercise for assessing trunk rotator muscle strength in both isokinetic and isometric conditions, with average strength being the most consistent metric.
This research provides a consistent and reproducible way to monitor core strength, which is critical for sports performance and injury prevention. The Horizontal Cable Woodchop exercise outperformed the Low Cable Woodchop in reliability, making it the preferred protocol for clinical and athletic testing.