Vastus intermedius muscle architecture predicts the late phase of the knee extension rate of force development in recreationally resistance-trained men

Because rate of force development (RFD) is an emerging outcome measure for the assessment of neuromuscular function in unfatigued conditions, and it represents a valid alternative/complement to the classical evaluation of pure maximal strength, this scoping review aimed to map the available evidence regarding RFD as an indicator of neuromuscular fatigue. Thus, following a general overview of the main studies published on this topic, we arbitrarily compared the amount of neuromuscular fatigue between the “gold standard” measure (maximal voluntary force, MVF) and peak, early (≤100 ms) and late (>100 ms) RFD. Seventy full-text articles were included in the review. The most-common fatiguing exercises were resistance exercises (37% of the studies), endurance exercises/locomotor activities (23%), isokinetic contractions (17%), and simulated/real sport situations (13%). The most widely tested tasks were knee extension (60%) and plantar flexion (10%). The reason (i.e., rationale) for evaluating RFD was lacking in 36% of the studies. On average, the amount of fatigue for MVF (−19%) was comparable to late RFD (−19%) but lower compared to both peak RFD (−25%) and early RFD (−23%). Even if the rationale for evaluating RFD in the fatigued state was often lacking and the specificity between test task and fatiguing exercise characteristics was not always respected in the included studies, RFD seems to be a valid indicator of neuromuscular fatigue. Based on our arbitrary analyses, peak RFD and early phase RFD appear even to be more sensitive to quantify neuromuscular fatigue than MVF and late phase RFD.

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Muscle architecture and morphology as determinants of explosive strength

European Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00421-020-04585-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

T. M. Maden-Wilkinson ◽

T. G. Balshaw ◽

G. J. Massey ◽

J. P. Folland

Keyword(s):

Late Phase ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Muscle Architecture ◽

Muscle Size ◽

Moment Arm ◽

Neural Drive ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Explosive Strength ◽

Independent Variable ◽

Maximum Voluntary Torque

Abstract Purpose Neural drive and contractile properties are well-defined physiological determinants of explosive strength, the influence of muscle architecture and related morphology on explosive strength is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between Quadriceps muscle architecture (pennation angle [ΘP] and fascicle length [FL]) and size (e.g., volume; QVOL), as well as patellar tendon moment arm (PTMA) with voluntary and evoked explosive knee extension torque in 53 recreationally active young men. Method Following familiarisation, explosive voluntary torque at 50 ms intervals from torque onset (T50, T100, T150), evoked octet at 50 ms (8 pulses at 300-Hz; evoked T50), as well as maximum voluntary torque, were assessed on two occasions with isometric dynamometry. B-mode ultrasound was used to assess ΘP and FL at ten sites throughout the quadriceps (2–3 sites) per constituent muscle. Muscle size (QVOL) and PTMA were quantified using 1.5 T MRI. Result There were no relationships with absolute early phase explosive voluntary torque (≤ 50 ms), but θP (weak), QVOL (moderate to strong) and PTMA (weak) were related to late phase explosive voluntary torque (≥ 100 ms). Regression analysis revealed only QVOL was an independent variable contributing to the variance in T100 (34%) and T150 (54%). Evoked T50 was also related to QVOL and θP. When explosive strength was expressed relative to MVT there were no relationships observed. Conclusion It is likely that the weak associations of θP and PTMA with late phase explosive voluntary torque was via their association with MVT/QVOL rather than as a direct determinant.

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

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11115272 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 5272

Author(s):

Vasiliki Gaspari ◽

Gregory C. Bogdanis ◽

Ioli Panidi ◽

Georgia Giannakopoulou ◽

Gerasimos Terzis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Female Athletes ◽

Average Rate ◽

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Muscle Architecture ◽

Rate Of Force Development ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Force Development ◽

Force Time ◽

Muscle Actions

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.

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An attempt to bridge muscle architecture dynamics and its instantaneous rate of force development using ultrasonography

Ultrasonics ◽

10.1016/j.ultras.2015.03.009 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 61 ◽

pp. 71-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jizhou Li ◽

Yongjin Zhou ◽

Yong-Ping Zheng ◽

Guanglin Li

Keyword(s):

Muscle Architecture ◽

Rate Of Force Development ◽

Instantaneous Rate ◽

Force Development

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Force-Velocity Relationship on a Cycle Ergometer and Knee-Extensor Strength Indices

Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1139/h02-015 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 250-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Tarak Driss ◽

Henry Vandewalle ◽

Jean-Michel Le Chevalier ◽

Hugues Monod

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Power ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Cycle Ergometer ◽

Rate Of Force Development ◽

Isokinetic Testing ◽

Force Development ◽

Velocity Relationship ◽

Force Velocity ◽

Maximal Anaerobic Power ◽

Braking Force

Maximal anaerobic power (Pmax) is often measured on a friction loaded cycle ergometer by means of an all-out exercise against a single braking force or from the force-velocity relationship. The relationship between braking force (F) and peak velocity (V) in cycling is linear: V = V0(1 − F/F0) where V0 and F0 correspond to the intercepts with the velocity axis and force axis, respectively. The aim of the present paper was to test the hypothesis that parameter F0, expresses strength ability. The first study (12 male volleyball players) showed significant correlations between F0 and maximal isometric voluntary force (MVF) or maximal isometric rate of force development (MRFD) during isometric knee extension with data expressed either in absolute units (0.66 < r < 0.81, P < 0.01) or related to quadriceps muscle mass kgQ or kgQ2/3 (0.58 < r < 0.82, 0.05 < P < 0.001). In the second study (24 male athletes), F0 was significantly correlated with the peak torques in isokinetic Biodex knee extension at four angular velocities (0, 1.57, 3.14 and 4.19 rad • s−1) with the values expressed in absolute units (0.49 < r < 0.83, 0.05 < P < 0.001). When the results were related to kgQ or kgQ2/3 the correlation coefficients increased with velocity (0.22 < r < 0.69) and were significant (0.05 < P < 0.001) except at 0 rad • s−1. Nevertheless, the interest of the determination of F0 in addition to Pmax is questionable because similar coefficients of correlation were obtained between Pmax and strength performances. Key words: force, rate of force development, isometric exercise, isokinetic testing, maximal anaerobic power

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Rate of Force Development and Muscle Architecture after Fast and Slow Velocity Eccentric Training

Sports ◽

10.3390/sports7020041 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 41 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Angeliki-Nikoletta Stasinaki ◽

Nikolaos Zaras ◽

Spyridon Methenitis ◽

Gregory Bogdanis ◽

Gerasimos Terzis

Keyword(s):

Resistance Training ◽

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Muscle Architecture ◽

Rate Of Force Development ◽

Vastus Lateralis Muscle ◽

Eccentric Training ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Force Development ◽

Muscle Fascicle ◽

Slow Velocity

The aim of the study was to investigate the rate of force development (RFD) and muscle architecture early adaptations in response to training with fast- or slow-velocity eccentric squats. Eighteen young novice participants followed six weeks (two sessions/week) of either fast-velocity (Fast) or slow-velocity (Slow) squat eccentric-only training. Fast eccentric training consisted of nine sets of nine eccentric-only repetitions at 70% of 1-RM with <1 s duration for each repetition. Slow eccentric training consisted of five sets of six eccentric-only repetitions at 90% of 1-RM with ~4 sec duration for each repetition. Before and after training, squat 1-RM, countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric leg press RFD, and vastus lateralis muscle architecture were evaluated. Squat 1-RM increased by 14.5 ± 7.0% (Fast, p < 0.01) and by 5.4 ± 5.1% (Slow, p < 0.05). RFD and fascicle length increased significantly in the Fast group by 10–19% and 10.0 ± 6.2%, p < 0.01, respectively. Muscle thickness increased only in the Slow group (6.0 ± 6.8%, p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between the training induced changes in fascicle length and RFD. These results suggest that fast eccentric resistance training may be more appropriate for increases in rapid force production compared to slow eccentric resistance training, and this may be partly due to increases in muscle fascicle length induced by fast eccentric training.

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Contralateral limb deficit after ACL-reconstruction: an analysis of early and late phase of rate of force development

Journal of Sports Sciences ◽

10.1080/02640414.2016.1168933 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 435-440 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Dragan M. Mirkov ◽

Olivera M. Knezevic ◽

Nicola A. Maffiuletti ◽

Marko Kadija ◽

Aleksandar Nedeljkovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Late Phase ◽

Rate Of Force Development ◽

Contralateral Limb ◽

Force Development

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Maximum rate of force development is increased by antagonist conditioning contraction

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1994.77.2.807 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 807-811 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

M. D. Grabiner

Keyword(s):

Maximum Rate ◽

Isometric Force ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Quadriceps Femoris ◽

Rate Of Force Development ◽

Force Development ◽

Knee Flexor ◽

Flexor Muscles ◽

Conditioning Contraction

Nine subjects performed maximum contractions with the knee extensor muscles on an isokinetic device set at 4.36 rad/s. The knee extensions were preceded by isometric conditioning contractions of the antagonist knee flexor muscles. The conditioning contraction forces were 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the maximum isometric force. The purpose of the study was to determine 1) the effects of graded conditioning contractions with the knee flexor muscles on the maximum performance of the quadriceps femoris and 2) whether the effects of the conditioning contractions are similarly distributed to components of the quadriceps femoris. The increased initial quadriceps femoris activation levels associated with the conditioning contractions were similarly distributed to quadriceps femoris components. In contrast with previously published research on exercise performed at substantially lower knee extension velocities, the maximum knee extension force and the work performed were not affected by the conditioning contractions. However, the maximum rate of force development increased significantly (P < 0.05). The intensity of the knee flexor conditioning contractions likely influences agonist motor unit activation variables, but this influence may be related to the speed of the agonist contraction.

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