Affiliations: [a] Sports Medicine / Athletic Training Research Laboratory, Memorial Gymnasium, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA | [b] Department of Educational Studies, Curry School of Education, Charlottesville, VA, USA | [c] Department of Orthopedics, Health Sciences Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
Abstract: The influence of cutaneous and joint receptors on the quadriceps femoris torque-velocity relationship was assessed with the Kin-Com (Chattecx, Inc., Hixson, TN) isokinetic dynamometer. Twenty-four females (age = 21 ± 1.4 years, ht = 163 ± 6.0 cm, wt = 60 ± 7.6 kg) were divided into two groups and tested with the force pad placed either proximally or distally on the leg. Three concentric and eccentric contractions were performed at 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200° s−1 on 2 separate days with an anesthetic applied to the skin under the force pad on 1 of the 2 days. An ANOYA was performed on peak torque with trend analyses performed on velocity factors. The results indicate the cutaneous and knee joint receptors do not affect the quadriceps femoris concentric or eccentric torque-velocity relationships, F(7, 154) = 1.6. Furthermore, the results revealed significant linear, F(1, 154) = 161.14, and quadratic trends, F(1, 154) = 25.85, for concentric and eccentric peak torque, respectively. Thus, the concentric torque-velocity relationship is best described by a linear relationship rather than the classic curvilinear relationship. Conversely, the eccentric relationship is best described by the classic curvilinear relationship. These results suggest that adequate assessment of muscular torque production requires testing at multiple velocities.
