Influence of Passive Torque Offered by Soft Tissue on Oxygen Consumption During Movement in Men and Women

Abstract

This study examined the influence of passive torque (PT) offered by stretch of soft tissue on oxygen consumption during movement. Subjects, 14 male soccer players and 14 female handball players, underwent 3 tests. The PT to adduction resulting from a horizontal straddle in the hip joint was measured through ranges 0 to 50° using a device that moved the leg at a velocity of 3° sec−1. The time-dependent loss of PT was determined with the leg straddling at 50° for 1 min. Energy cost was measured through voluntary straddle at speeds of 30 repeats · min−1. The PTs at every 5° through 35 to 50° were 7.9, 10.5, 14.7, and 20.0 Nm for the men and 4.5, 6.4, 8.9, and 11.9 Nm for the women. The iPT between the PT curve and an axis of abscissa averaged 190.1 ± 33.1 Nm · deg in the women and 326.5 ± 65.0 Nm · deg in the men (p ≤ 0.05). The energy cost for active straddle increased with increasing the iPT in both genders (men, r = 0.812; women, r = 0.618), and increasing the time-dependent loss of PT in the men (r = 0.812). These data suggest that lowered passive torque can increase movement efficiency.