Model-based prediction of the individual N-repetition maximum with application to physical rehabilitation

The individual adjustment of the training intensity during physical training of the lower back muscles plays a cruical role in strength rehabilitation of chronic low back pain patients. Since an one-repetition maximum test may increase injury risk and a common N-repetition maximum test with several trials is stressful for the patient and in many cases inaccurate, in this paper a model-based approach is proposed for predicting the N-repetition maximum. The individual N-repetition maximum is predicted by means of a biomechanical model together with fatique parameters obtained from an isometric maximum voluntary muscle contraction measurement and allows for a proper adjustment of the training intensity.