The Mid-Thigh Pull Strength Test measures how much force a client can produce when pulling upward against an immovable bar, strap, handle or fixed setup from approximately mid-thigh height. It is commonly used to assess maximal isometric whole-body force production, especially in strength and conditioning settings.

This test can provide useful context for lower-limb strength, hip and knee extension force, trunk bracing, grip contribution, sprinting, jumping, lifting, acceleration, collision sport, field sport and progress tracking. It is a multi-joint test, so the result reflects a coordinated pulling effort rather than a single muscle group.

The Muscle Meter is a handheld dynamometry tool used to measure force output during push, pull and isometric strength assessments. When used on its own, the Muscle Meter primarily measures peak force, which is the highest force value produced during the test. When used with Measurz, Muscle Meter data can be recorded and analysed with a broader set of strength and force-time metrics, including peak force, impulse, torque, rate of torque development, rate of force development, time to peak and fatigue index.

For routine mid-thigh pull testing, peak force is usually the main metric. Force as a percentage of body weight is especially useful because mid-thigh pull results are commonly interpreted relative to body mass. Rate of force development and time to peak are also highly relevant when rapid force production matters, such as sprinting, jumping, tackling, acceleration or change of direction. Impulse may be useful if force over a defined time window is intentionally analysed. Fatigue index is only relevant if repeated or sustained efforts are part of the protocol.

The result can support assessment reasoning and progress tracking, but it does not diagnose injury, identify a specific weak muscle, predict performance with certainty or determine readiness for sport or work on its own.

What Is the Mid-Thigh Pull Strength Test?

The Mid-Thigh Pull Strength Test is a maximal isometric pulling assessment where the client pulls upward against an immovable setup. In force-plate sport science, this test is often called the isometric mid-thigh pull, or IMTP. With the Muscle Meter, the test may be performed using a fixed strap, handle, bar or anchor connected to the device, depending on the available setup.

The movement intent is a strong upward pull from a position similar to the second pull of a clean or a strong athletic pulling posture. The hips and knees are partially flexed, the trunk is braced, the arms remain straight and the client pulls as hard as possible without the bar or handle moving.

Consistent setup matters because knee angle, hip angle, trunk angle, bar height, grip position, strap length, pre-tension, footwear, stance width and client instructions all affect the result. This test measures force output in a specific setup. It does not fully measure sprinting ability, jumping ability, lifting skill, technical weightlifting performance, endurance or sport/work readiness on its own.

Step-by-Step Protocol / Practice

1. Prepare the client

Explain that the test measures how strongly they can pull upward against an immovable setup. Record baseline symptoms, back discomfort, hip symptoms, knee symptoms, grip symptoms, fatigue, recent training load, heavy lifting exposure and confidence with maximal effort.

Use at least 1–2 submaximal practice trials so the client understands the position, bracing strategy and force direction. Familiarisation is important because the mid-thigh pull is strongly affected by posture and intent.

2. Set the client position

Position the client standing with feet at a consistent width and the bar, handle or strap at approximately mid-thigh height. The hip, knee and trunk angles should be recorded. The arms should generally remain straight.

Record:

• Stance width
• Footwear
• Bar, handle or strap height
• Grip position
• Knee angle
• Hip angle
• Trunk angle
• Shoulder position
• Strap length
• Anchor point
• Whether body weight was measured for normalisation

The test should feel like a strong pull from a powerful athletic position rather than a shrug, curl or back extension movement.

3. Set up the device or straps

Attach the Muscle Meter to a fixed anchor, bar, strap, chain or handle setup that will not move during the test. The setup must be strong enough for maximal pulling force and should not stretch excessively.

Record:

• Anchor point
• Strap or chain length
• Handle or bar type
• Device position
• Device orientation
• Whether any pre-tension was used
• Whether the anchor or handle moved during testing

Push, pull, bar, strap and force-plate results should be recorded separately unless the protocol supports direct comparison.

4. Place the device, strap or handle

Position the handle or bar so the client can pull upward from mid-thigh height with arms straight. The Muscle Meter should be aligned with the force direction and connected securely.

The force direction should be upward. The client should pull hard through the legs and hips while maintaining a stable trunk and straight arms.

5. Stabilise the position

Stabilise the setup rather than manually resisting the client. The anchor, strap, handle and Muscle Meter should remain fixed.

The client should avoid bending the elbows, shrugging excessively, leaning back, changing foot position, bouncing into the effort or jerking the setup before the recording begins.

6. Give clear instructions

Use consistent instructions such as:

“Set your position and take the slack out of the strap.”
“Pull upward as hard and as fast as you can.”
“Keep your arms straight.”
“Drive through the floor and keep your body position strong.”
“Keep pulling until I say stop.”
“Keep breathing where possible.”
“Tell me if you feel pain, cramping, tingling or anything unusual.”

Use the same wording at retest where possible.

7. Record trials

Use 1–2 practice trials, then record 2–3 maximal trials. A common contraction duration is 3–5 seconds. Rest for 1–3 minutes between maximal trials, especially for stronger or highly trained clients.

Record whether the final score uses the best trial or the average of recorded trials. Best trial is commonly used for maximal strength testing, while an average may be useful for some monitoring workflows if applied consistently.

8. Identify invalid trials

Repeat or mark a trial as invalid if:

• The setup moves
• The strap or anchor shifts
• The client jerks before the recording begins
• The client bends the elbows significantly
• The client changes stance
• The trunk angle changes dramatically
• The client loses balance
• Pain or cramping limits effort
• The client starts before the device is ready
• The recording misses the peak effort
• The protocol changes between trials

9. Record symptoms

Record back symptoms, hip symptoms, knee symptoms, grip symptoms, cramping, paraesthesia, confidence, apprehension and symptom response after testing. Do not repeatedly test through high pain, worsening symptoms or severe cramping.

For retesting, match the same stance, bar height, strap setup, joint angles, instructions, contraction duration, rest period, scoring method and symptom recording.

Why It Is Used

The Mid-Thigh Pull Strength Test is used to quantify maximal isometric pulling force in a repeatable multi-joint setup. It may be useful for:

• Baseline whole-body strength assessment
• Lower-body and posterior-chain strength profiling
• Bodyweight-normalised strength comparison
• Monitoring change over time
• Assessing rapid force production where relevant
• Supporting sprinting, jumping and acceleration assessment reasoning
• Supporting lifting and strength training assessment reasoning
• Sport and performance profiling
• Workplace context where lifting, pulling, carrying or forceful bracing are relevant
• Client education

The test should support assessment reasoning. It should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic, prediction or clearance measure.

What It Measures

The test primarily measures maximal isometric pulling force in a mid-thigh position. It reflects combined contribution from the lower limbs, hips, trunk, upper back, grip and bracing strategy.

It may provide useful information about:

• Peak whole-body isometric force
• Force relative to body weight
• Rate of force development
• Time to peak force
• Impulse over a defined time window
• Confidence producing high force
• Symptom response during maximal pulling
• Change in force over time

It does not directly measure:

• One specific muscle group
• Technical lifting skill
• Sprinting performance
• Jumping performance
• Injury risk
• Tissue status
• Grip strength alone
• Endurance
• Readiness to return to sport or work

Understanding the Result, Reference Values and What to Look For

What a higher or lower result may suggest

A higher score may suggest greater maximal isometric pulling force in that exact setup. A lower score may suggest reduced force output, but the reason should be interpreted carefully.

Lower force may be influenced by pain, apprehension, poor familiarisation, fatigue, grip limitation, inconsistent bar height, poor bracing, recent workload, poor stance consistency, device movement, lower-limb strength, trunk control or confidence.

One result should not be interpreted in isolation. Interpretation is strongest when the same setup is repeated over time and reviewed alongside symptoms, confidence, body weight, training exposure, jump tests, sprint tests, lower-limb strength tests, lifting tasks and sport or work demands.

What can influence the result

Important influences include:

• Pain
• Apprehension
• Poor familiarisation
• Fatigue
• Grip limitation
• Bar or handle height
• Strap length
• Pre-tension
• Stance width
• Knee angle
• Hip angle
• Trunk angle
• Footwear
• Anchor stiffness
• Device orientation
• Instructions
• Client intent
• Breath holding or bracing strategy

Normative, reference and comparative values

Published Muscle Meter-specific universal norms for the mid-thigh pull are limited. Most published mid-thigh pull data come from force-plate IMTP protocols, so values should be used as context only unless the setup is closely matched.

More user-friendly comparison data include:

• IMTP results are commonly reported as peak force in Newtons, relative force in N/kg, or as a multiple/percentage of body weight. This makes bodyweight-normalised force especially useful for comparing the client to their own baseline and to similar groups.
• A result equal to 1.0 × body weight means the client is pulling with force roughly equal to their body weight.
• A result of 2.0 × body weight means they are pulling with roughly double bodyweight force.
• A result of 3.0 × body weight means roughly triple bodyweight force, which is more consistent with trained strength or power populations than general entry-level clients.
• Athlete IMTP values can vary widely by sport, sex, training age, body size, testing position and force-plate processing method. This means broad athlete norms should be used carefully unless the population and protocol match.
• Peak force is generally more reliable than early rapid-force measures. Reviews of IMTP reliability commonly report strong reliability for peak force when posture, instructions and force processing are standardised, while early RFD measures can be more variable.
• For repeated testing, look for meaningful changes that are larger than normal test variation. Very small changes may reflect setup, motivation or measurement noise rather than true performance change.
• If force is recorded as a percentage of body weight in Measurz, use it mainly for the client’s own baseline, similar-client comparison and retesting under the same setup.

These values and comparisons are best used as context. They can help structure interpretation, but they should not be used as diagnostic, performance-prediction or clearance cut-offs.

Practical interpretation priorities

Use this order:

1. Compare with the client’s own baseline.
2. Review peak force and force relative to body weight.
3. Consider whether setup and body position were identical.
4. Review symptoms during and after testing.
5. Consider confidence, motivation and effort quality.
6. Review whether compensations or setup movement occurred.
7. Review rate of force development if rapid force production is relevant.
8. Compare with related strength, jump, sprint or work-task tests.
9. Relate the result to sport, gym, work or daily-life demands.
10. Retest under the same conditions to monitor change.
11. Do not use reference values as pass/fail criteria.

What to look at for each relevant Muscle Meter metric

Peak force
Use for maximum mid-thigh pull force output, baseline strength, bodyweight-normalised comparison and progress tracking. Look for best score or average score, consistent setup, change from baseline, symptom response and whether the setup remained stable.

Force as percentage of body weight
This is highly useful for the mid-thigh pull. Look for changes over time and whether the client’s relative force improves, stays stable or decreases. Use broad bodyweight multiples only as practical context, not pass/fail criteria.

Torque
Torque is usually not the main routine metric for the mid-thigh pull because the test is a multi-joint whole-body pull. Use only if a specific biomechanical setup and lever-arm calculation is intentionally used. It should not be used as normative data.

Rate of force development
Use when rapid force production matters, such as sprinting, jumping, acceleration, tackling or change of direction. Look for early force production and whether RFD improves while peak force stays similar. RFD is more sensitive to setup and filtering than peak force.

Time to peak
Use to understand whether the client reaches peak force quickly or slowly. Faster time to peak may be useful in explosive sport contexts, but interpretation should include effort strategy and instructions.

Impulse
Use if force over a defined time window is intentionally analysed. This can help when the professional wants to know whether the client produces and sustains force across a short pulling window.

Fatigue index
Use only if repeated or sustained mid-thigh pull efforts are part of the protocol. Look for drop-off across repeated trials and whether the decline matches symptoms, fatigue or training load.

Assessing and Providing Context for Different Client Populations

Youth clients
Consider growth, maturation, coordination, training age, confidence and lifting experience. Use strong familiarisation and conservative interpretation because technique and intent can strongly influence results.

Adults and general fitness clients
Use the test for baseline strength, progress tracking and force relative to body weight. Compare with lower-limb strength, squat strength, deadlift pattern, jump tests and general exercise goals.

Older adults
Consider confidence, balance, grip, back comfort, bracing tolerance, fatigue and function. Use the test only when the setup is safe and appropriate. A lower score may provide context, but it should not be interpreted without function.

Athletes and sport clients
Consider sprinting, jumping, acceleration, contact, collision, lifting and change-of-direction demands. Peak force and RFD can support performance profiling, but they do not predict performance with certainty.

Workplace and manual task clients
Consider lifting, pulling, carrying, bracing, forceful work tasks, fatigue and task exposure. Do not use one score to clear work duties.

Clients returning after injury
Use the test to monitor force output, confidence and symptom response. Strength alone should not confirm readiness.

Clients with pain or persistent symptoms
Pain, fear, guarding, fatigue, apprehension and confidence may reduce force. Record symptoms carefully and compare with related tests.

Higher body mass clients
Absolute force and force relative to body mass are both useful. Interpret results in relation to goals, symptoms and functional demands, not assumptions about body size.

Reliability, Validity and Measurement Considerations

Repeatability improves when the same setup is used each time. Record and standardise:

• Same stance width
• Same foot position
• Same footwear
• Same bar or handle height
• Same knee angle
• Same hip angle
• Same trunk angle
• Same grip position
• Same strap or chain length
• Same anchor setup
• Same device orientation
• Same pre-tension
• Same instructions
• Same contraction duration
• Same rest period
• Same scoring method
• Same symptom and compensation recording

IMTP research generally supports peak force as one of the more reliable variables when the protocol is well controlled. Early rapid-force variables can be useful, but they are more sensitive to sampling, filtering, instructions and starting strategy.

Common Errors and Limitations

Common errors include:

• Bar or handle height changing
• Strap length changing
• Anchor movement
• Jerking into the start
• Bending the elbows
• Excessive shrugging
• Trunk angle changing between trials
• Foot position changing
• Poor familiarisation
• Not recording pre-tension
• Inconsistent instructions
• Testing through high pain
• Comparing force-plate IMTP values directly with a different Muscle Meter setup
• Treating the score as a complete performance prediction

Limitations include:

• Testing is setup-dependent
• Grip can limit the result
• Anchor stiffness and strap stretch can affect the score
• Muscle Meter-specific universal norms may be limited
• Force-plate and strap-based values may not be directly interchangeable
• Peak force does not identify which muscle limited the task
• High force does not automatically indicate readiness for sport or work
• RFD and impulse require consistent force-time recording and processing

Practical Applications

The Mid-Thigh Pull Strength Test may be useful for:

• Baseline whole-body strength assessment
• Bodyweight-normalised force comparison
• Monitoring response to strength training
• Supporting sprint, jump and acceleration assessment reasoning
• Comparing with squat, deadlift, jump and lower-limb strength tests
• Athletic profiling
• Workplace force-capacity profiling
• Client education
• Fitness and performance progress tracking

Ideas to Make the Result Better

If peak force is low, consider assessing squat strength, hip extension strength, knee extension strength, grip, trunk bracing, confidence and technical familiarity.

If relative force is low but absolute force is high, interpret this in relation to body mass, goals and task demands rather than assuming poor strength.

If RFD is low but peak force is good, compare with jumping, sprinting, acceleration or other rapid-force tasks before drawing conclusions.

If the setup moves, improve the anchor, strap, handle position and pre-tension before retesting.

If symptoms limit the result, record symptom location, review setup tolerance and compare with related tests.

If the client is improving, keep the same test setup and monitor whether force, symptoms, confidence and performance tasks improve together.

Recommended Standard Protocol Summary

Position: Standing mid-thigh pull position
Start position: Bar, handle or strap at mid-thigh height; arms straight
Joint or trunk angle: Record knee angle, hip angle and trunk angle
Trials: 1–2 practice trials, then 2–3 recorded trials
Contraction duration: 3–5 seconds
Rest: 1–3 minutes between maximal efforts
Metric: Peak force, percentage/bodyweight multiple, and RFD/time to peak if relevant
Attachment or device setup: Muscle Meter connected to fixed bar, handle, strap, chain or anchor
Final score: Best trial or average of trials, with bodyweight-normalised value recorded where possible
Key retesting requirement: Same stance, bar height, joint angles, strap setup, pre-tension, instructions, contraction duration, rest and scoring method

FAQs

What does the Mid-Thigh Pull Strength Test measure?

It measures maximal isometric pulling force in a mid-thigh position. It reflects whole-body force production rather than one isolated muscle.

Is the mid-thigh pull the same as a deadlift?

No. It uses a similar pulling posture, but the bar or handle does not move. It measures isometric force, not lifting skill or dynamic strength.

Should the result be recorded as percentage of body weight?

Yes, where possible. Relative force is very useful for this test because body size strongly influences absolute force.

What bodyweight values are useful for comparison?

A result of 1.0 × body weight means force roughly equal to body weight, 2.0 × body weight means roughly double body weight, and 3.0 × body weight means roughly triple body weight. These are practical comparison points, not pass/fail cut-offs.

Are there universal mid-thigh pull norms for the Muscle Meter?

Published universal Muscle Meter norms for this exact setup appear limited. Force-plate IMTP data are useful, but they should not be treated as identical to strap or Muscle Meter setups unless the protocol is closely matched.

Which metric matters most?

Peak force is usually the main routine metric. Rate of force development and time to peak may be useful when explosive force production matters.

What can make the result unreliable?

Changing bar height, strap length, stance, joint angles, pre-tension, instructions, grip, fatigue or anchor stiffness can affect results.

What should be recorded in Measurz?

Record stance, bar or handle height, hip angle, knee angle, trunk angle, strap setup, pre-tension, peak force, bodyweight-relative force, symptoms, compensations, confidence, scoring method and related findings.

Key Takeaways

• The Mid-Thigh Pull Strength Test measures maximal isometric pulling force in a multi-joint setup.
• Peak force is usually the main routine Muscle Meter metric.
• Force relative to body weight is especially useful for interpretation.
• Practical bodyweight multiples such as 1.0 ×, 2.0 × and 3.0 × body weight can help explain results, but they are not pass/fail cut-offs.
• RFD and time to peak can be useful for explosive sport contexts, but they are more sensitive to protocol consistency.
• Baseline comparison and retesting consistency are more useful than broad norms.
• Measurz should capture setup, symptoms, bodyweight-normalised force, force-time metrics where relevant, compensations and retesting conditions.

References

Brady, C. J., Harrison, A. J., & Comyns, T. M. (2018). 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. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2018.1452968

Comfort, P., Dos’Santos, T., Beckham, G. K., Stone, M. H., Guppy, S. N., & Haff, G. G. (2019). Standardisation and methodological considerations for the isometric mid-thigh pull. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 41(2), 57–79.

Dos’Santos, T., Thomas, C., Jones, P. A., & Comfort, P. (2017). Assessing asymmetries in change of direction speed performance: Application of change of direction deficit. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(11), 2953–2961.

Haff, G. G., Carlock, J. M., Hartman, M. J., Kilgore, J. L., Kawamori, N., Jackson, J. R., Morris, R. T., Sands, W. A., & Stone, M. H. (2005). Force-time curve characteristics of dynamic and isometric muscle actions of elite women Olympic weightlifters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 19(4), 741–748.

McGuigan, M. R., Newton, M. J., Winchester, J. B., & Nelson, A. G. (2010). Relationship between isometric and dynamic strength in recreationally trained men. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(9), 2570–2573.