Force–Time Characteristics of Dynamic and Isometric Muscle Actions: Association with Muscle Architecture in Female Athletes

Vasiliki Gaspari,Anastasia Donti,Helen Kotsala,Georgia Giannakopoulou,Gregory C Bogdanis,Olyvia Donti,Ioli Panidi,Gerasimos Terzis

doi:10.3390/app11115272

Vasiliki Gaspari, Anastasia Donti + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115272

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Abstract

The association between force–time characteristics of isometric leg press (ILP) and countermovement jump (CMJ) with vastus lateralis (VL) muscle architecture, was examined in 19 female athletes (aged 23.2 ± 5.4 years). Peak force (PF), average rate of force development (ARFD) and rate of force development (RFD) at different time epochs were calculated from the force–time curve, as well as CMJ jump height and power. Significant correlations were found between ILP-PF and CMJ power (r = 0.658, p < 0.01), while both variables were correlated with VL thickness and fascicle length (r = 0.471 to 0.648, p < 0.05). Significant correlations were also observed between ILP-RFD epochs and VL fascicle length (r = 0.565 to 0.646, p < 0.05) and between CMJ height with VL thickness (r = 0.523, p < 0.05). Furthermore, positive correlations were found between ILP and CMJ in ARFD (r = 0.625, p < 0.01) and RFD epochs (r = 0.464 to 0.566, p < 0.05). ILP-PF and muscle thickness accounted for 52.8% (p = 0.002) of the variance in CMJ power. These results suggest that isometric force time characteristics are associated with power generation during dynamic muscle actions. Furthermore, VL muscle thickness and fascicle length are associated with rapid force production in female athletes, irrespective of the type of muscle action.

Highlights

Muscular strength and power are important fitness parameters for athletic performance, daily life activities, and clinical populations [1]
This study found that female athletes with higher maximal lower limb strength, as measured with isometric leg press (ILP), were capable of producing higher levels of power during a jumping test
Both isometric peak force (PF) and jump power were associated with vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness and fascicle length

Summary

Introduction

Muscular strength and power are important fitness parameters for athletic performance, daily life activities, and clinical populations [1]. The evaluation of strength and explosive muscle performance may be accomplished by analyzing the force–time characteristics of isometric and dynamic muscle actions [2]. Isometric strength tests require the athlete to apply force against an immovable device and the forces generated during these tests allow for the quantification of peak force (PF), rate of force development (RFD) and impulse [3,4,5,6]. PF and RFD are essential force–time characteristics and have been investigated in relation to skeletal muscle fiber type [7], muscle architecture [8] and muscle size [9,10]. RFD has important functional significance in fast and forceful muscle contractions because it determines the force that can be generated in the early phase of muscle contraction (0–200 ms) [3]. RFD is related to performance in many power sports, where the duration of key technical movements (e.g., long jump, sprint) lasts from 80 to 170 ms [11,12]

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