Treadmill measurement of the force‐velocity relationship and power output in subjects with different maximal running velocities

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to estimate the gross body force‐velocity (F‐V) relationship on a newly developed motorized treadmill (Gymrol, France) in subjects who differed in their predicted maximal running velocity (Vmax) calculated from the F‐V relationship. Of the 32 subjects tested, those with the 14 highest Vmax values were assigned to a fast group (FG) and those with the lowest 13 Vmax values to a slow group (SG). The F‐ V relationship during two testing sessions was obtained from six 5‐s, all‐out sprints against different resistance settings that were 5%, 8%, 10%, 13%, 15% and 20% of the maximal value the treadmill could produce. The F‐V relationship fitted a linear regression in both groups. The individual correlation coefficients for the F‐ V relationship during the first session ranged from —0.992 to —0.997, and during the second session from —0.989 to —0.998, with no significant differences between sessions. The Vmax was significantly higher in FG (Vmax = 7.20±0.32m/s) than in the SG (Vmax = 5.96 ± 0.39 m/s) (P < 0.05). Compared with the SG, the FG had a higher maximal power, taken as the highest power value regardless of the resistance at which it occurred (3033 ±461 W and 2633 ± 412 W, respectively) (P < 0.05). The velocity at the resistances of 5% (68 N) to 13% (176N) was higher in FG than in SG. Power was also higher in FG compared to SG at all resistances, with no significant difference at 176 N and 270 N. It was concluded that the linear F‐ V relationship measured on the treadmill was independent of the subject's maximal running speed. However, the two linear F‐ V relationships became more disparate at resistances lower than 176N, showing a greater velocity in a subject with a higher maximal running speed. The subjects with a higher maximal speed also developed higher power on the tested resistance range. The differences between groups might be due to their different muscle architecture and to the higher fast‐twitch fiber composition in subjects from the FG compared with that from the SG. Keywords: Force‐velocity relationshiptreadmill Notes Corresponding author. Fax: [phone].