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The Force-Velocity Relationship in Older People: Reliability and Validity of a Systematic Procedure

TL;DR: Collecting mean force and velocity values against multiple loads, while monitoring the linearity of the F-V relationship, seemed to be the more adequate procedure to assess theF-V profile and muscle power in older adults.
Abstract: This study compared the reliability and validity of different protocols evaluating the force-velocity (F-V) relationship and muscle power in older adults. Thirty-one older men and women (75.8±4.7 years) underwent two F-V tests by collecting the mean and peak force and velocity data exerted against increasing loads until one repetition maximum (1RM) was achieved in the leg press exercise. Two attempts per load were performed, with a third attempt when F-V points deviated from the linear F-V regression equation. Then, the subjects performed 2×3 repetitions at 60% 1RM to compare purely concentric and eccentric-concentric repetitions. The Short Physical Performance Battery was conducted to assess the validity of the different protocols. Significant differences were found in maximal power (Pmax) between mean and peak values and between protocols differing in the number of attempts per load (p 3), was significantly more reliable (Pmax: CV=2.6%; ICC=0.99) than the other alternatives. Mean values were also observed to be more associated with physical function than peak values (R2=0.34 and 0.15, respectively; p

Summary (2 min read)

Introduction

  • Muscle power has increasingly been shown to be an important determinant of athletic performance [36].
  • The importance of muscle power oversteps the context of sport, and early studies observed a strong association between muscle power and several indices of functional performance in older adults [1].
  • The individual capacity to produce muscle power depends on the ability to exert force and velocity, and consequently, on the forcevelocity (F-V) relationship.

ABstR ACt

  • This study compared the reliability and validity of different protocols evaluating the force-velocity (F-V) relationship and muscle power in older adults.
  • Registering mean values, a third attempt, and multiple loads (>3), was significantly more reliable (Pmax: CV = 2.6 %; ICC = 0.99) than the other alternatives.
  • No significant differences were observed between concentric and eccentric-concentric repetitions.
  • Thus, collecting mean force and velocity values against multiple loads, while monitoring the linearity of the F-V relationship, seemed to be the more adequate procedure to assess the F-V profile and muscle power in older adults.

Participants

  • Subjects were recruited through advertisements and community newsletters.
  • The subjects completed a medical history questionnaire and performed the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) [17] to assess their physical function.
  • Exclusion criteria included a SPPB score < 4, severe cognitive impairment (mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score < 20), neuromuscular or joint injury, stroke, myocardial infarction or bone fracture in the previous six months, uncontrolled hypertension ( > 200/110 mmHg) or terminal illness.
  • All the subjects gave their informed consent and the study was performed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and approved by the Ethical Committee of the Toledo Hospital.
  • This study meets the ethical standards in sports and exercises science research [18].

Testing Procedures

  • First, the participants attended 2 familiarization sessions.
  • During the F-V and muscle power testing procedure, the subjects performed 2 sets of 1 repetition with increasing loads (10-kg increments) from 40 % of their body mass.
  • Med covery time, the subjects were asked to perform 2 sets of 3 repetitions at 60 % 1RM in order to compare a single-repetition per set (SR; a purely concentric muscle action) vs. a multiple-repetition per set (MR; containing eccentric-concentric muscle actions) protocol.

Adverse events

  • Adverse events were carefully monitored for 3 weeks in which data collection was conducted for each subject.
  • An adverse event was defined as any unfavorable or unintended event (pain, discomfort, injury or accident) that occurred during the course of the study and that might not necessarily be caused by the study procedures.

Data analysis

  • Mean force and velocity values from each repetition, and force and velocity values exerted at peak power within each repetition were acquired from all the evaluations to compare both sets of data.
  • Hereafter, mean data were used for the comparison between procedures.
  • In addition, a short version of the entire protocol considering 3 loads (3-L) was also studied by selecting the first, the middle and the last load performed by the subjects.
  • In all cases, several variables were extracted from the F-V regression equation.
  • Force at zero velocity (i. e., theoretical maximal isometric force) was obtained from the force-intercept (F0), while velocity at zero force (i. e., maximal velocity with no load) was calculated as the velocity-intercept (V0).

Statistical analysis

  • Sample size calculation was conducted based on the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) using the R package (R version 3.2.4 revised) [10].
  • The F-V relationship was evaluated by measuring force and velocity data from 6.2 ± 1.8 loads and 13.2 ± 3.7 repetitions per subject.
  • No adverse events were registered throughout the study.

Reliability of an SR vs. an MR protocol

  • There were no significant differences in mean muscle power exerted at 60 % 1RM between testing sessions or between different protocols (▶table 2).
  • Reliability was significantly higher for the 2 + 1- than for the 2-attempt protocol regarding SEM % values for V0 and Pmax, and ICC of V0 values (▶table 5).
  • The authors findings showed that a protocol collecting mean force and velocity values from either concentric or eccentric-concentric muscle actions performed against multiple progressive loads was an optimal strategy to evaluate the F-V relationship and muscle power in older adults in terms of reliability and external validity, explaining up to 34 % of the variability in physical function.
  • Wilhelm EN, Rech A, Minozzo F, Radaelli R, Botton CE, Pinto RS.

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Alcazar J et al. The Force-Velocity Relationship in Int J Sports Med
Training & Testing
Thieme
Introduction
Muscle power has increasingly been shown to be an important de-
terminant of athletic performance [36]. However, the importance
of muscle power oversteps the context of sport, and early studies
observed a strong association between muscle power and several
indices of functional performance in older adults [1]. Muscle power
has a greater inuence on functional mobility in older adults than
any other physical capacity [6], and it has been recognized as a pri-
ority target of resistance training interventions aimed at enhanc-
ing physical function and preserving independence in later life [21].
The individual capacity to produce muscle power depends on the
ability to exert force and velocity, and consequently, on the force-
velocity (F-V) relationship. The evaluation of the F-V relationship in
older adults might help to identify specic neuromuscular decits
and optimize the design of exercise programs to counteract such
decits and improve physical performance, as has been reported
in young adults regarding jumping performance [25].
The evaluation of the F-V relationship usually consists of register-
ing the movement velocity exerted against increasing loads (isotonic
evaluation) or measuring the force exerted at dierent constant
The Force-Velocity Relationship in Older People: Reliability and
Validity of a Systematic Procedure
Authors
Julian Alcazar
1, 2
, Carlos Rodriguez-Lopez
1, 2
, Ignacio Ara
1, 2
, Ana Alfaro-Acha
2, 3
, Asier Mañas-Bote
1, 2
,
Amelia Guadalupe-Grau
2, 4
, Francisco Jose García-García
2, 4
, Luis M. Alegre
1, 2
Aliations
1 GENUD Toledo Research Group, Universidad de Castilla-
La Mancha, Toledo, Spain
2 CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Madrid,
Spain
3 Hospital Virgen del Valle, Complejo Hospitalario de
Toledo, Toledo, Spain
4 ImFINE Research Group, Universidad Politécnica de
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Key word
aging, muscle power, power training, resistance training,
functional ability, muscle function
accepted 26.08.2017
Bibliography
DOI https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-119880
Published online: 2017
Int J Sports Med
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
ISSN 0172-4622
Correspondence
Dr. Luis M. Alegre, PhD
University of Castilla-La Mancha
Faculty of Spors Sciences, Campus Tecnológico
Avda. Carlos III s/n
45071 Toledo
Spain
Tel.: + 34/925/268 800, e:5520, Fax: + 34/925/268 846
Luis.Alegre@uclm.es
ABSTRACT
This study compared the reliability and validity of dierent
protocols evaluating the force-velocity (F-V) relationship and
muscle power in older adults. Thirty-one older men and wom
-
en (75.8 ± 4.7 years) underwent two F-V tests by collecting the
mean and peak force and velocity data exerted against increas
-
ing loads until one repetition maximum (1RM) was achieved in
the leg press exercise. Two attempts per load were performed,
with a third attempt when F-V points deviated from the linear
F-V regression equation. Then, the subjects performed 2 × 3
repetitions at 60 % 1RM to compare purely concentric and ec
-
centric-concentric repetitions. The Short Physical Performance
Battery was conducted to assess the validity of the dierent
protocols. Signicant dierences were found in maximal pow
-
er (Pmax) between mean and peak values and between proto-
cols diering in the number of attempts per load (p < 0.01).
Registering mean values, a third attempt, and multiple loads
(>3), was significantly more reliable (Pmax: CV = 2.6 %;
ICC = 0.99) than the other alternatives. Mean values were also
observed to be more associated with physical function than
peak values (R
2
= 0.34 and 0.15, respectively; p < 0.05). No sig-
nicant dierences were observed between concentric and
eccentric-concentric repetitions. Thus, collecting mean force
and velocity values against multiple loads, while monitoring
the linearity of the F-V relationship, seemed to be the more
adequate procedure to assess the F-V prole and muscle pow
-
er in older adults.
Downloaded by: National University of Singapore. Copyrighted material.

Alcazar J et al. The Force-Velocity Relationship in Int J Sports Med
Training & Testing
Thieme
velocities (isokinetic evaluation). The latter might present some
disadvantages for the evaluation of physical function in older
adults, because isokinetic movement rarely occurs during func-
tional tasks. Thus, the evaluation of the F-V relationship can be a
time-consuming and fatiguing task for an older subject, who has
to perform a relatively high number of repetitions against dierent
loads/velocities to draw the whole F-V relationship. Fortunately,
the F-V relationship during multi-joint movements has been shown
to follow a strong linear regression pattern [4, 23], which permits
the F-V relationship to be accurately drawn from a few F-V points
by means of a linear regression equation [39], something that could
facilitate the evaluation of the F-V relationship in older adults. How-
ever, whereas in young adults a recent study demonstrated that a
two-load method was a feasible approach to assess the F-V rela-
tionship in an upper-body resistance exercise [31], the validity and
reliability of the determination of the F-V relationship through the
evaluation of a few loads have not been previously analyzed in older
adults. In addition, some concerns remain regarding the protocol
conducted for F-V and muscle power measurement in older adults
(e. g., collecting mean vs. peak values, concentric vs. eccentric-con-
centric muscle actions, number of attempts performed with each
increasing load, and the total number of loads evaluated to build
the F-V relationship).
Thus, the main goals of this investigation were to compare the
reliability of dierent protocols that evaluate the F-V relationship,
and to assess the validity and reliability of a systematic procedure
to assess the F-V relationship and muscle power in older adults.
Methods
Participants
Subjects were recruited through advertisements and community
newsletters. Participants were screened if they were aged 70
years, community-dwelling, and reported no participation in a reg-
ular resistance training program in the previous 6 months. The sub-
jects completed a medical history questionnaire and performed
the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) [17] to assess their
physical function. Exclusion criteria included a SPPB score < 4, se-
vere cognitive impairment (mini-mental state examination (MMSE)
score < 20), neuromuscular or joint injury, stroke, myocardial in-
farction or bone fracture in the previous six months, uncontrolled
hypertension ( > 200/110 mmHg) or terminal illness. A total of 31
older subjects (17 women) were given medical acceptance by the
study physician and met the entry criteria to participate in the study
(Table 1). All the subjects gave their informed consent and the
study was performed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration
and approved by the Ethical Committee of the Toledo Hospital. This
study meets the ethical standards in sports and exercises science
research [18].
Testing Procedures
First, the participants attended 2 familiarization sessions. Then, leg
muscle power testing was conducted twice, on separate days, by
the same evaluator, with identical equipment and procedures, and
at the same time of the day with a dierence of 7 days in between.
F-V and muscle power testing
Before each session, subjects performed a general warm-up con-
sisting of 5 min of cycling (Ergoline, 800S, Bitz, Germany) at a self-
reported light intensity (10–40 W), plus a specic warm-up in which
the subjects performed 3 sets of 10 repetitions on the leg press
equipment (BH Fitness, L050, Vitoria, Spain) at an intensity equiva-
lent to 40 % of their body mass with a 1-min resting period between
sets. The last 3 repetitions of each set were performed explosively.
During the familiarization sessions, the subjects were instructed on
how to sit on the leg press, perform repetitions with a proper tech-
nique, and breathe while performing the exercise (expiration during
the concentric phase and inspiration during the eccentric phase to
avoid the Valsalva maneuver). The familiarization phase also served
to identify and record the correct position of each subject on the leg
press machine, to reproduce the same range of movement (ROM)
across the subjects and testing sessions (from 100º and 90º at the
hip and knee joints, respectively, to 180º or full extension).
During the F-V and muscle power testing procedure, the sub-
jects performed 2 sets of 1 repetition with increasing loads (10-kg
increments) from 40 % of their body mass. When the subjects failed
to lift a certain load, it was decreased by 5 kg until the one repeti-
tion maximum (1RM) was achieved. Force and velocity data during
the concentric phase of each repetition were recorded by a linear
position transducer device (T-Force System, Ergotech, Murcia,
Spain). The duration of the recovery time between sets was de-
signed according to the mean velocity exerted by the subjects in
the preceding repetition ( > 0.50 m · s
1
: 60 s of recovery time;
0.30–0.50 m · s
1
: 90 s of recovery time; < 0.30 m · s
1
: 120 s of re-
covery time). The subjects were continually encouraged to perform
each repetition as fast and strongly as possible. To ensure that all
the repetitions were performed at maximal speed, force and veloc-
ity data from each repetition were computed in a Microsoft Excel®
template (supplemental material), and the highest mean velocity
for each load was plotted. Because the F-V relationship was expect-
ed to follow a linear relationship [23], a linear regression equation
was tted simultaneously during the F-V evaluation. When the
highest mean velocity exerted against a certain load deviated more
than 0.03 m · s
1
from the estimated value based on the regression
analysis obtained with the preceding repetitions, a third repetition
was performed with that specic load. When a participant was not
able to exert his/her potentially maximal speed with a certain load,
and a deviation greater than 0.03 m · s
1
remained, that load was
discarded and the F-V relationship was computed considering the
remaining loads. The cut-o point of 0.03 m/s was selected based
on other studies implementing a velocity-based strength training
program [30] and according to pilot testing conducted in our lab-
oratory. In addition, after the 1RM determination and 5 min of re-
Table 1 Main characteristics of the subjects.
Variable Mean (SD) Range
Age (years) 75.8 (4.7) 70.2–84.9
BMI (kg/m
2
) 30.2 (4.4) 19.5–43.0
SPPB score 10.6 (2.1) 4.0–12.0
MMSE score 26.2 (3.0) 20.0–30.0
BMI: body mass index. MMSE: mini-mental state examination.
SD: standard deviation. SPPB: short physical performance battery
Downloaded by: National University of Singapore. Copyrighted material.

Alcazar J et al. The Force-Velocity Relationship in Int J Sports Med
covery time, the subjects were asked to perform 2 sets of 3 repeti-
tions at 60 % 1RM in order to compare a single-repetition per set
(SR; a purely concentric muscle action) vs. a multiple-repetition per
set (MR; containing eccentric-concentric muscle actions) protocol.
The highest mean velocity produced from the rst repetition of
each set (only concentric) was compared against the highest mean
velocity produced from the second and third repetitions of each
set (eccentric-concentric).
Adverse events
Adverse events were carefully monitored for 3 weeks in which data
collection was conducted for each subject. An adverse event was
dened as any unfavorable or unintended event (pain, discomfort,
injury or accident) that occurred during the course of the study and
that might not necessarily be caused by the study procedures. In
case of an adverse event, it would be additionally classied as study-
related or non-study-related based on its origin and etiology.
Data analysis
Mean force and velocity values from each repetition, and force and
velocity values exerted at peak power within each repetition were ac-
quired from all the evaluations to compare both sets of data. Hereaf-
ter, mean data were used for the comparison between procedures.
As a reference method, the F-V relationship was calculated from
mean force and velocity data recorded from all the measured loads
(multiple-load (M-L) protocol), with 2 attempts per load, and an
additional attempt as mentioned in a previous section (2
+ 1
-at-
tempt protocol).
For comparison, we also calculated the F-V relationship not con-
sidering the third attempt (2-attempt protocol) if it was performed.
In addition, a short version of the entire protocol considering 3
loads (3-L) was also studied by selecting the rst, the middle and
the last load performed by the subjects.
In all cases, several variables were extracted from the F-V regres-
sion equation. Force at zero velocity (i. e., theoretical maximal isomet-
ric force) was obtained from the force-intercept (F
0
), while velocity at
zero force (i. e., maximal velocity with no load) was calculated as the
velocity-intercept (V
0
). The slope of the F-V relationship (S
FV
) was ob-
tained from the following equation (equation 1):
S
F
V
FV
=−
0
0
The linear relationship between force and velocity allowed for
maximal muscle power (P
max
) calculation using the following for-
mula (equation 2):
P
FV
max
=
×
00
4
The optimal load (L
opt
) at which the subjects exerted their P
max
was also calculated.
Statistical analysis
Sample size calculation was conducted based on the intra-class cor-
relation coecient (ICC) using the R package (R version 3.2.4 re-
vised) [10]. The arguments introduced were the preliminary ICC of
Pmax values (model 2,1) obtained in a group of 10 older subjects
(ICC = 0.977), the null hypothesis (ICC = 0.90), the number of rat-
ings of each subject (2), the number of tails (2) and the desired sta-
tistical power (0.80). A minimum of 15 older subjects was required
to satisfy the arguments introduced into the R package.
All data were examined statistically for normality of distribution
with the Shapiro-Wilk’s test, and standard descriptive statistics
were used for continuous variables.
Signicant dierences between protocols (collecting mean val-
ues vs. peak values; a 2-attempt vs. a 2
+ 1
-attempt protocol; an M-L
vs. a 3-L protocol; and an SR vs. an MR protocol) were assessed with
Student’s t-tests for independent samples.
Reliability of the F-V relationship and muscle power values ob-
tained from the dierent procedures were evaluated using dier-
ent approaches [20]. Within-subject variation was assessed by
means of the standard error of measurement (SEM), also reported
in relative terms (SEM %), and by the coecient of variation (CV);
changes in the mean of the dierent protocols between sessions
were analyzed with Student’s t-tests for dependent samples; and
retest correlation was evaluated using the ICC (model 2,1).
In addition, the dierent procedures were also compared re-
garding their associations with the SPPB score, as a measure of con-
struct validity. For this analysis, P
max
values were extracted from
the second evaluation, because of the greater experience gained
by the subjects after the rst evaluation. Bivariate linear and quad-
ratic regression analyses were performed because the relationship
between muscle power and physical function has been reported
to follow a quadratic relationship in some cases [2]. The coecient
of determination (R
2
) change was used to compare the linear and
quadratic models. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS
v20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA), and the level of signicance
was set at α = 0.05.
Results
Testing procedure and adverse events
Force and velocity data showed a signicant linear relationship in
all subjects, with individual R
2
values ranging from 0.95 to 1.00,
whereas quadratic models did not signicantly improve the R
2
val-
ues (p > 0.05). The F-V relationship was evaluated by measuring
force and velocity data from 6.2 ± 1.8 loads and 13.2 ± 3.7 repeti-
tions per subject. On average, 0.8 ± 0.8 loads were discarded be-
cause they deviated from the F-V regression equation
( > 0.03 m · s
1
). Finally, 5.1 ± 1.9 loads were considered to obtain
the F-V relationship of the participants. The evaluation of the F-V
relationship was carried out in 26.9 ± 8.0 min per subject. No ad-
verse events were registered throughout the study.
Reliability of mean vs. peak values
There were no signicant dierences for any protocol between test-
ing sessions (Table 2). However, P
max
derived from peak values
was signicantly higher than that observed from mean values. Ab-
solute reliability was higher when mean values were considered in
comparison with peak values (Table 3). SEM % values of V
0
and
P
max
were signicantly lower and the ICC for P
max
signicantly high-
er when collecting mean compared with peak values.
Downloaded by: National University of Singapore. Copyrighted material.

Alcazar J et al. The Force-Velocity Relationship in Int J Sports Med
Training & Testing
Thieme
Reliability of an SR vs. an MR protocol
There were no signicant dierences in mean muscle power exert-
ed at 60 % 1RM between testing sessions or between dierent pro-
tocols (Table 2). There were no signicant dierences in SEM %,
CV or ICC values between protocols (Table 4).
Reliability of protocols diering in the number of
attempts per load
The 2
+ 1
-attempt protocol showed no signicant dierences be-
tween testing sessions (Table 2). In contrast, P
max
measured by
the 2-attempt protocol was found to be signicantly dierent in
the second evaluation with respect to the rst evaluation. Both pro-
tocols were signicantly dierent in the rst evaluation. Reliability
was signicantly higher for the 2
+ 1
- than for the 2-attempt proto-
col regarding SEM % values for V
0
and P
max
, and ICC of V
0
values
(Table 5).
Table 2 Comparison between dierent protocols and testing sessions to assess the force-velocity relationship and muscle power.
Variable Procedure
Session 1 Session 2 Session 1 vs. 2
Mean (SD) Mean (SD) p value
P
max
(W) Data collection
Mean values 242.7 (93.0) * 246.5 (89.8) * 0.123
Peak values 505.5 (207.9) 530.2 (210.7) 0.064
Attempts per load
2
+ 1
-attempt 242.7 (93.0) * 246.5 (89.8) 0.123
2-attempt 235.3 (92.4) 244.7 (91.7) 0.024
¥
Number of loads
M-L 242.7 (93.0) 246.5 (89.8) 0.123
3-L 248.7 (97.7) 244.0 (87.6) 0.325
P
60 %1RM
(W) Repetitions per set
SR 223.6 (84.6) 227.9 (88.1) 0.562
MR 253.9 (90.5) 252.8 (93.1) 0.863
MR: multiple-repetition per set protocol. M-L: multiple-load protocol. P
max
: maximal muscle power. P
60 %1RM
: muscle power at 60 % 1RM. SD: standard
deviation. SR: single-repetition per set protocol. 2-attempt: 2 attempts per load. 2
+ 1
-attempt: 2 attempts per load plus an additional load when
indicated. 3-L: 3-load protocol. * Signicant dierences between protocols (p < 0.01).
¥
Signicant dierences between testing sessions (p < 0.05)
Table 3 Reliability comparison of force-velocity parameters obtained from mean and peak values.
Variable F
0
(N) V
0
(m/s) S
FV
P
max
(W) L
opt
(kg)
SEM [95 % CI]
Mean values 99.4 [88.6–114.3] 0.05 [0.05-0.05] 268.5 [231.7–319.2] 8.0 [7.0–9.6] 5.1 [4.5–5.8]
Peak values 123.7 [110.3–140.7] 0.26 [0.23–0.29] 176.1 [151.2–210.8] 44.2 [37.8–53.1] 6.3 [5.6–7.2]
SEM [95 % CI] ( %)
Mean values 9.2 [8.1–10.5] 5.7 * [5.2–6.3] 21.1 [18.2–25.1] 3.3 * [2.8–3.9] 9.2 [8.1–10.5]
Peak values 11.3 [10.1–12.8] 13.5 [12.2–15.3] 28.3 [24.3–33.8] 8.5 [10.1–12.8] 11.3 [10.1–12.8]
CV [95 % CI] ( %)
Mean values 5.6 [2.5–8.7] 4.8 [2.2–7.5] 10.1 [4.6–15.7] 2.6 [1.5–3.7] 5.5 [2.5–8.7]
Peak values 7.6 [3.7–11.5] 10.6 [6.8–14.4] 17.7 [10.8–24.5] 5.8 [3.5–8.2] 7.6 [3.7–11.5]
ICC [95 % CI]
Mean values 0.91 [0.81–0.96] 0.94 [0.86–0.97] 0.73 [0.47–0.87] 0.99 * [0.98–1.00] 0.91 [0.81–0.96]
Peak values 0.86 [0.70–0.94] 0.77 [0.54–0.90] 0.59 [0.25–0.80] 0.96 [0.90–0.98] 0.86 [0.70–0.94]
CI: condence interval. CV: coecient of variation. F
0
: force-intercept. ICC: intra-class correlation coecient. L
opt
: optimal load. P
max
: maximal power.
SEM: standard error of measurement. S
FV
: slope of the force-velocity relationship. V
0
: velocity-intercept. * Signicant dierences between mean and
peak values (p < 0.05)
Table 4 Reliability comparison of mean muscle power exerted at 60 %
1RM between the single- and the multiple-repetition per set protocols.
Variable SR MR
SEM [95 % CI] (W) 23.9 [20.5–28.6] 20.7 [17.8–24.5]
SEM [95 % CI] ( %) 10.6 [9.1–12.7] 8.2 [7.0–9.7]
CV [95 % CI] ( %) 8.2 [5.3–11.2] 6.5 [4.4–8.5]
ICC [95 % CI] 0.93 [0.83–0.97] 0.95 [0.89–0.98]
CI: condence interval. CV: coecient of variation. ICC: intra-class
correlation coecient. MR: multiple-repetition per set protocol. SEM:
standard error of measurement. SR: single-repetition per set
protocol. * Signicant dierences between the SR and MR protocols
(p < 0.05)
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Alcazar J et al. The Force-Velocity Relationship in Int J Sports Med
Reliability of protocols diering in the number
of loads
There were no signicant dierences in P
max
between testing ses-
sions or protocols regarding the number of loads considered
(Table 2). However, the M-L protocol was signicantly more reli-
able than the 3-L protocol, considering their SEM % values for F
0
,
V
0
, P
max
and L
opt
(Table 5).
Validity of the dierent protocols regarding physical
function
Collecting mean values was found to be superior (curvilinear rela-
tionship; R
2
= 0.34) than peak values (linear relationship; R
2
= 0.15)
to predict the participants’ SPPB scores. Both the SR and MR pro-
tocols showed a signicant and similar linear relationship with phys-
ical function (R
2
= 0.19 and 0.18, respectively). R
2
values were also
similar between the 2
+ 1
- and 2-attempt protocols (both curvilin-
ear relationships; R
2
= 0.34 and 0.33, respectively), and between
the M-L and 3-L protocols (both curvilinear relationships; both
R
2
= 0.34).
Discussion
Our ndings showed that a protocol collecting mean force and ve-
locity values from either concentric or eccentric-concentric mus-
cle actions performed against multiple progressive loads was an
optimal strategy to evaluate the F-V relationship and muscle power
in older adults in terms of reliability and external validity, explain-
ing up to 34 % of the variability in physical function.
The great heterogeneity reported in the literature investigating
muscle power in older adults is likely to be partially explained by
the dierent methods and protocols used [7, 37]. P
max
values sig-
nicantly diered when collecting mean or peak values. In young
adults, there are inconclusive results regarding reliability of mus-
cle power testing, with some evidence in favor of using mean val-
ues [12, 14], and other evidence supporting the use of peak values
[13]. In older adults, one previous study compared the utility of
both approaches, and mean values were more strongly associated
with the older subjects’ muscle quality and size [38]. In this line,
we found that mean values were signicantly more reliable and
better associated with physical function in comparison with peak
values, thus mean values might be preferred when evaluating older
individuals.
In addition, muscle power can be measured using purely con-
centric muscle contractions (SR protocol) or stretch-shortening
cycle (SSC) actions where eccentric and concentric contractions
are performed (MR protocol). Though the SSC is believed to in-
crease neuromuscular performance in young adults [26], contra-
dictory results exist regarding older adults [5, 22]. In our study, the
SSC did not improve power values at 60 % 1RM over only-concen-
tric repetitions, and reliability was similar between both protocols.
In young adults, an SSC protocol was found to have a greater error
than a solely-concentric protocol, although both of them were
highly reliable [29]. In the absence of signicant dierences be-
tween the two protocols, we prefer to use the SR protocol due to
its simplicity, and overall because it might be a safer alternative for
older adults compared with MR protocols, which impose a higher
mechanical and cardiovascular load [27], leading to an increased
risk of injury or cardiovascular event. However, future studies
should evaluate the inuence of the SSC on muscle power of older
adults over the whole F-V relationship.
The main novelty that this study introduces is the implementa-
tion of a systematic procedure by which force and velocity data can
Table 5 Reliability comparison of force-velocity parameters obtained from protocols diering in the number of attempts per load and/or number of
loads.
Variable F
0
(N) V
0
(m/s) S
FV
P
max
(W) L
opt
(kg)
SEM [95 % CI]
M-L [2
+ 1
-attempt] 99.4 [88.6–114.3] 0.05 [0.05-0.05] 268.5 [231.7–319.2] 8.0 [7.0–9.6] 5.1 [4.5–5.8]
M-L [2–attempt] 98.3 [90.1–108.1] 0.08 [0.07–0.08] 271.5 [241.9–309.3] 13.4 [12.1–15.1] 5.0 [4.6–5.5]
3-L [2
+ 1
-attempt] 142.0 [129.8–156.5] 0.09 [0.09–0.10] 278.1 [247.5–317.1] 16.3 [14.7–18.3] 7.2 [6.6–8.0]
SEM [95 % CI] ( %)
M-L [2
+ 1
-attempt] 9.2 [8.1–10.5] 5.7 [5.2–6.3] 21.1 [18.2–25.1] 3.3 [2.8–3.9] 9.2 [8.1–10.5]
M-L [2–attempt] 9.1 [8.4–10.0] 8.5 * [8.0–9.1] 21.3 [19.0–24.3] 5.6 * [5.0–6.3] 9.1 [8.4–10.0]
3-L [2
+ 1
-attempt] 12.9 * [11.8–14.3] 10.2 * [9.6–10.9] 21.6 [19.3–24.7] 6.6 * [6.0–7.4] 12.9 * [11.8–14.3]
CV [95 % CI] ( %)
M-L [2
+ 1
-attempt] 5.6 [2.5–8.7] 4.8 [2.2–7.5] 10.1 [4.6–15.7] 2.6 [1.5–3.7] 5.5 [2.5–8.7]
M-L [2–attempt] 6.3 [3.3–9.3] 6.1 [2.8–9.4] 12.0 [6.5–17.5] 4.4 [2.0–6.9] 6.3 [3.3–9.3]
3-L [2
+ 1
-attempt] 9.9 [6.6–13.1] 8.5 [5.8–11.2] 17.8 [12.2–23.5] 4.3 [2.7–5.8] 9.9 [6.6–13.1]
ICC [95 % CI]
M-L [2
+ 1
-attempt] 0.91 [0.81–0.96] 0.94 [0.86–0.97] 0.73 [0.47–0.87] 0.99 [0.98–1.00] 0.91 [0.81–0.96]
M-L [2–attempt] 0.92 [0.82–0.96] 0.85 * [0.68–0.81] 0.75 [0.51–0.88] 0.98 [0.93–0.99] 0.92 [0.82–0.96]
3-L [2
+ 1
-attempt] 0.84 [0.67–0.93] 0.81 [0.60–0.91] 0.75 [0.50–0.88] 0.97 [0.93–0.99] 0.84 [0.67–0.93]
CI: condence interval. CV: coecient of variation. F
0
: force-intercept. ICC: intra-class correlation coecient. L
opt
: optimal load. M-L: multiple-load
protocol. P
max
: maximal power. SEM: standard error of measurement. S
FV
: slope of the force-velocity relationship. V
0
: velocity-intercept. 2-attempt: 2
attempts per load. 2
+ 1
-attempt: 2 attempts per load plus an additional load when indicated. 3-L: 3-load protocol. * Signicantly dierent compared
with the M-L [2
+ 1
-attempt] protocol (p < 0.05)
Downloaded by: National University of Singapore. Copyrighted material.

Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The low time, space and material requirements of the STS muscle power test, make this test an excellent choice for its application in large cohort studies and the clinical setting and to assess its association with other age‐related outcomes.

126 citations


Cites background or methods from "The Force-Velocity Relationship in ..."

  • ...A great variety of testing protocols are available in the literature using a great variety of testing instruments (Alcazar et al., 2017a)....

    [...]

  • ...The highest mean velocity for each load was plotted on a custom-made Microsoft Excel® template (Alcazar et al., 2017b), and a linear regression equation was fitted simultaneously during the F-V evaluation....

    [...]

  • ...(Alcazar et al., 2017b)....

    [...]

  • ...…and validate STS muscle power values with those exerted in the leg press exercise due to the similarity between these two lower-body multi-joint tasks, and because the leg press has been shown to be the most commonly used exercise to assess leg muscle power in older people (Alcazar et al., 2017a)....

    [...]

  • ...A full description and validation of the force-velocity and muscle power testing procedure has been reported (Alcazar et al., 2017b)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Current evidence suggests that the F-V relation in skeletal muscles follows a double-hyperbolic pattern, with a breakpoint located at very high forces/low velocities, which may be a direct consequence of the kinetic properties of myofilament cross-bridge formation.
Abstract: The shape of the force-velocity (F-V) relationship has important implications for different aspects of muscle physiology, such as muscle efficiency and fatigue, the understanding of the pathophysiology of several myopathies or the mechanisms of muscle contraction per se, and may be of relevance for other fields, such as the development of robotics and prosthetic applications featuring natural muscle-like properties. However, different opinions regarding the shape of the F-V relationship and the underlying mechanisms exist in the literature. In this review, we summarize relevant evidence on the shape of the F-V relationship obtained over the last century. Studies performed at multiple scales ranging from the sarcomere to the organism level have described the concentric F-V relationship as linear, hyperbolic or double-hyperbolic. While the F-V relationship has most frequently been described as a rectangular hyperbola, a large number of studies have found deviations from the hyperbolic function at both ends of the F-V relation. Indeed, current evidence suggests that the F-V relation in skeletal muscles follows a double-hyperbolic pattern, with a breakpoint located at very high forces/low velocities, which may be a direct consequence of the kinetic properties of myofilament cross-bridge formation. Deviations at low forces/high velocities, by contrast, may be related to a recently discovered, calcium-independent regulatory mechanism of muscle contraction, which may also explain the low metabolic cost of very fast muscle shortening contractions. Controversial results have also been reported regarding the eccentric F-V relationship, with studies in prepared muscle specimens suggesting that maximum eccentric force is substantially greater than isometric force, whereas in vivo studies in humans show only a modest increase, no change, or even a decrease in force in lengthening contractions. This review discusses possible reasons reported in the literature for these discrepant findings, including the testing procedures (familiarization, pre-load condition, and temperature) and a potential neural inhibition at higher lengthening velocities. Finally, some unresolved questions and recommendations for F-V testing in humans are reported at the end of this document.

64 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Older subjects exhibited different mechanisms (force vs. velocity deficits) leading to impaired muscle power, and both deficits were associated with a lower physical function and quality of life, and a higher frailty, whereas only a force deficit was associated withA lower cognitive function.

48 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Major discrepancies were found in muscle power testing protocols among studies, which might limit consensus on designing optimal training programs to improve muscle power and physical function in older adults.
Abstract: Background Muscle power has been proposed to be the primary therapeutic target for resistance training interventions aimed at enhancing physical function in older adults. However, no recommendations exist on ideal testing protocols to assess muscle power in older adults, and the safety of this procedure has not been adequately evaluated in the literature. Methods A systematic review was conducted to identify studies evaluating muscle power exerted by older people in resistance exercises through May 2017. Information from muscle power testing protocols regarding familiarization, warm-up, measuring instrument, exercise, intensity, volume, rest intervals, data collection, and analysis was collected, as well as that regarding adverse events. Reporting bias was evaluated according to the recommendations given by the Cochrane Collaboration group. Results From 65 studies that met inclusion criteria, 3,484 older subjects and 11,841 muscle power tests distributed in 6,105 testing sessions were identified. A full description of the different muscle power testing protocols was conducted. In addition, a risk of adverse events of 0.15%-0.69% (one adverse event every 144-658 muscle power tests) was found. However, adverse events were poorly reported, with most of the studies showing a high risk of reporting bias. Conclusions Major discrepancies were found in muscle power testing protocols among studies. This might limit consensus on designing optimal training programs to improve muscle power and physical function in older adults, and understanding the main mechanisms involved in the age-related loss of muscle power. Finally, muscle power testing was found to be safe in older people with a broad range of health and functional states.

48 citations


Cites background or methods from "The Force-Velocity Relationship in ..."

  • ...Accordingly, the test was completed in only 27 minutes on average, though a short version that required only 13 minutes was also presented (117)....

    [...]

  • ...Pmax always occurred at submaximal intensities, hence studies aiming at measuring Pmax could avoid maximal intensity efforts (ie 1RM/MVIC testing) by means of other protocols based on absolute or relative-to-body mass load increments (72,73,75,76,78,83,92,117)....

    [...]

  • ...In addition, mean values have been found to be more reliable and strongly associated with physical performance than peak values (117)....

    [...]

  • ...We recently validated a testing procedure in older adults by which the force–velocity relationship can be obtained, and thus, the power output exerted by the older subjects over the whole power–load relationship, along with the true Pmax value (117)....

    [...]

  • ...In addition, performing one repetition was reported as reproducible and valid as three repetitions (117), so performing >3 repetitions per set might be futile....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A short concurrent exercise program of muscle power and walking‐based HIIT training is a feasible and safe method to increase physical performance and improve function and frailty in elder (pre)frail patients.

42 citations


Cites methods from "The Force-Velocity Relationship in ..."

  • ...Several variables were extracted from the FeV regression equation as previously reported (Alcazar et al., 2017) (force-intercept or maximal force (F0), velocity-intercept, maximal velocity (V0), slope of the FeV relationship, maximal muscle power (Pmax), the load that elicited Pmax and optimal force (force at which Pmax is produced)), and Pmax was also relativized to body mass....

    [...]

  • ...Force and the highest mean velocity data for each load from each repetition were computed and plotted in a Microsoft Excel® template (Alcazar et al., 2017) (freely available online)....

    [...]

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence is presented that performance measures can validly characterize older persons across a broad spectrum of lower extremity function and that performance and self-report measures may complement each other in providing useful information about functional status.
Abstract: Background A short battery of physical performance tests was used to assess lower extremity function in more than 5,000 persons age 71 years and older in three communities. Methods Balance, gait, strength, and endurance were evaluated by examining ability to stand with the feet together in the side-by-side, semi-tandem, and tandem positions, time to walk 8 feet, and time to rise from a chair and return to the seated position 5 times. Results A wide distribution of performance was observed for each test. Each test and a summary performance scale, created by summing categorical rankings of performance on each test, were strongly associated with self-report of disability. Both self-report items and performance tests were independent predictors of short-term mortality and nursing home admission in multivariate analyses. However, evidence is presented that the performance tests provide information not available from self-report items. Of particular importance is the finding that in those at the high end of the functional spectrum, who reported almost no disability, the performance test scores distinguished a gradient of risk for mortality and nursing home admission. Additionally, within subgroups with identical self-report profiles, there were systematic differences in physical performance related to age and sex. Conclusion This study provides evidence that performance measures can validly characterize older persons across a broad spectrum of lower extremity function. Performance and self-report measures may complement each other in providing useful information about functional status.

7,417 citations


"The Force-Velocity Relationship in ..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...SPPB: short physical performance battery D ow nl oa de d by : N at io na l U ni ve rs ity o f S in ga po re ....

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  • ...The subjects completed a medical history questionnaire and performed the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) [17] to assess their physical function....

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  • ...Our subjects ranged from older adults with adequate physical performance (SPPB = 12; n = 6) to older adults with severe impairments in functional mobility (SPPB = 4-6; n = 4)....

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  • ...Variable Mean (sD) Range Age (years) 75.8 (4.7) 70.2–84.9 BMI (kg/m2) 30.2 (4.4) 19.5–43.0 SPPB score 10.6 (2.1) 4.0–12.0 MMSE score 26.2 (3.0) 20.0–30.0 BMI: body mass index....

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  • ...In addition, the different procedures were also compared regarding their associations with the SPPB score, as a measure of construct validity....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A wider understanding of reliability and adoption of the typical error as the standard measure of reliability would improve the assessment of tests and equipment in the authors' disciplines.
Abstract: Reliability refers to the reproducibility of values of a test, assay or other measurement in repeated trials on the same individuals. Better reliability implies better precision of single measurements and better tracking of changes in measurements in research or practical settings. The main measures of reliability are within-subject random variation, systematic change in the mean, and retest correlation. A simple, adaptable form of within-subject variation is the typical (standard) error of measurement: the standard deviation of an individual’s repeated measurements. For many measurements in sports medicine and science, the typical error is best expressed as a coefficient of variation (percentage of the mean). A biased, more limited form of within-subject variation is the limits of agreement: the 95% likely range of change of an individual’s measurements between 2 trials. Systematic changes in the mean of a measure between consecutive trials represent such effects as learning, motivation or fatigue; these changes need to be eliminated from estimates of within-subject variation. Retest correlation is difficult to interpret, mainly because its value is sensitive to the heterogeneity of the sample of participants. Uses of reliability include decision-making when monitoring individuals, comparison of tests or equipment, estimation of sample size in experiments and estimation of the magnitude of individual differences in the response to a treatment. Reasonable precision for estimates of reliability requires approximately 50 study participants and at least 3 trials. Studies aimed at assessing variation in reliability between tests or equipment require complex designs and analyses that researchers seldom perform correctly. A wider understanding of reliability and adoption of the typical error as the standard measure of reliability would improve the assessment of tests and equipment in our disciplines. CURRENT OPINION

4,149 citations


"The Force-Velocity Relationship in ..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...Reliability of the F-V relationship and muscle power values obtained from the different procedures were evaluated using different approaches [20]....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Measurement of leg extensor power in frail elderly people may prove useful in focusing effective rehabilitation programmes because of the relation within the group between age and any of the variables measured.
Abstract: 1. Residents of a chronic care hospital (13 men of mean age 88.5 ± 6 sd years and 13 women of mean age 86.5 ± 6 sd years) who had multiple pathologies were assessed for leg extensor capability in several ways. 2. A custom-built rig was used to assess leg extensor power, that is, maximal power output over less than 1 s in a single extension of one leg. Performance measures were obtained by timing chair rises (from a standard chair 0.43 m high), stair climbing (four risers, total height 0.635 m) and a walk (6.1 m). For each measurement the best of several trials were recorded as definitive. 3. Leg extensor power was significantly correlated with all performance measures, but the performance measures were not related to each other except for chair rising and walking speed. 4. Women had significantly less extensor power than men, but their power explained more of the variance in performance, e.g. power accounted for 86% of the variance in walking speed. 5. There was no relation within the group between age and any of the variables measured. 6. Measurement of leg extensor power in frail elderly people may prove useful in focusing effective rehabilitation programmes.

961 citations


"The Force-Velocity Relationship in ..." refers background in this paper

  • ...However, the importance of muscle power oversteps the context of sport, and early studies observed a strong association between muscle power and several indices of functional performance in older adults [1]....

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Journal Article
TL;DR: The results suggest that although the leg extensor muscles of the men subjects could sustain much higher stretch loads, the females may be able to utilize a greater portion of the stored elastic energy in jumping activities.
Abstract: An alternating cycle of eccentric-concentric contractions in locomotion represents a sequence when storage and utilization of elastic energy takes place. It is possible that this storage capacity and its utilization depends on the imposed stretch loads in activated muscles, and that sex differences may be present in these phenomena. To investigate these assumed differences, subjects from both sexes and of good physical condition performed vertical jumps on the force-platform from the following experimental conditions: squatting jump (SJ) from a static starting position; counter-movement jump (CMJ) from a free standing position and with a preparatory counter-movement; drop jumps (DJ) from the various heights (20 to 100 cm) on to the platform followed immediately by a vertical jump. In all subjects the SJ, in which condition no appreciable storage of elastic energy takes place, produced the lowest height of rise of the whole body center of gravity (C.G.). The stretch load (drop height) influenced the performance so that height of rise of C. of G. increased when the drop height increased from 26 up to 62 cm (males) and from 20 to 50 cm (females). In all jumping conditions the men jumped higher than the women. However, examination of the utilization of elastic energy indicated that in CMJ the female subjects were able to utilize most (congruent to 90%) of the energy produced in the prestretching phase. Similarly, in DJ the overall change in positive energy over SJ condition was higher in women as compared to men. Thus the results suggest that although the leg extensor muscles of the men subjects could sustain much higher stretch loads, the females may be able to utilize a greater portion of the stored elastic energy in jumping activities.

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"The Force-Velocity Relationship in ..." refers result in this paper

  • ...Though the SSC is believed to increase neuromuscular performance in young adults [26], contradictory results exist regarding older adults [5, 22]....

    [...]

Related Papers (5)
Frequently Asked Questions (10)
Q1. What was the purpose of the F-V and muscle power testing procedure?

During the F-V and muscle power testing procedure, the subjects performed 2 sets of 1 repetition with increasing loads (10-kg increments) from 40 % of their body mass. 

Their findings showed that a protocol collecting mean force and velocity values from either concentric or eccentric-concentric muscle actions performed against multiple progressive loads was an optimal strategy to evaluate the F-V relationship and muscle power in older adults in terms of reliability and external validity, explaining up to 34 % of the variability in physical function. 

the F-V relationship during multi-joint movements has been shown to follow a strong linear regression pattern [4, 23], which permits the F-V relationship to be accurately drawn from a few F-V points by means of a linear regression equation [39], something that could facilitate the evaluation of the F-V relationship in older adults. 

Their subjects started the test with a relative load based on their body weight, so a 1RM test prior to the F-V evaluation was not necessary, reducing the total time required for F-V testing to ̴ 27 min. 

By means of a 2-load protocol it is not possible to test whether the subjects are performing the exercise repetitions as fast and strongly as possible, because R2 values will always be equal to 1 and deviations of the F-V points from the linear regression equation equal to 0, independently of the subjects’ ability to exert their maximal force and velocity. 

The Force-Velocity Relationship in … Int J Sports MedTraining & Testing Thiemebe monitored simultaneously during the F-V assessment, and considering their proposed criteria (deviation > 0.03 m/s from the linear regression equation), it can be objectively decided when an additional attempt with a certain load should be performed, and when a load should be discarded from the F-V analysis. 

A total of 31 older subjects (17 women) were given medical acceptance by the study physician and met the entry criteria to participate in the study (▶table 1). 

Their procedure partially solved this problem, because it was found to significantly improve the reliability of Pmax and V0 values (SEM % = 3.3 and 5.7 %, respectively) over a traditional protocol with a fixed number of attempts (SEM % = 5.6 and 8.5 %, respectively). 

As a reference method, the F-V relationship was calculated from mean force and velocity data recorded from all the measured loads (multiple-load (M-L) protocol), with 2 attempts per load, and an additional attempt as mentioned in a previous section (2 + 1-attempt protocol). 

A short version of the entire procedure was also studied, consisting of evaluating the F-V relationship against 3 loads, which could reduce to ̴ 13 min the time needed to conduct the F-V test.