Measurement of short term power output: comparison between cycling and jumping.

Abstract

Maximal power output during short term constant velocity cycling and vertical jumping from a force platform has been studied in five healthy young male subjects. From the measurements on the force platform the peak (instantaneous) power output (P), net impulse (IN ), force (F1 ). velocity of take-off(VT ) and height of jump(h) were calculated. The corresponding values for power (H), force (F) and velocity (V) on the bicycle were obtained from analysis of the force-velocity relationship. The results (mean ± S.D.) showed that on the force platform F1 P, IN, VT and h were 1073± 167N, 2205±310W, 154±17Ns, 2·48+0·15ms−1 and 31 +4cm. h was positively associated with both IN (r= +0·77) and P (r = 0·67). The mean maximal power output for cycling was 854W(39%) greater than jumping and was achieved at a 271N (25%) increase in F and a reduction in V. Nevertheless they were closely related. Platform P(W) = 717·6 + 0·483 bicycle H(W) r= +0·74 A comparison of linear and curvilinear (hyperbolic) analysis of the F/V bicy...