title: Optimal Balance Between Force and Velocity Differs Among World-Class Athletes.
abstract: Performance during human movements is highly related to force and velocity muscle capacities. Those capacities are highly developed in elite athletes practicing power-oriented sports. However, it is still unclear whether the balance between their force and velocity-generating capacities constitutes an optimal profile. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of elite sport background on the force-velocity relationship in the squat jump, and evaluate the level of optimization of these profiles. Ninety-five elite athletes in cycling, fencing, taekwondo, and athletic sprinting, and 15 control participants performed squat jumps in 7 loading conditions (range: 0%-60% of the maximal load they were able to lift). Theoretical maximal power (Pm), force (F0), and velocity (v0) were determined from the individual force-velocity relationships. Optimal profiles were assessed by calculating the optimal force (F0th) and velocity (v0th). Athletic sprinters and cyclists produced greater force than the other groups (P < .05). F0 was significantly lower than F0th, and v0 was significantly higher than v0th for female fencers and control participants, and for male athletics sprinters, fencers, and taekwondo practitioners (P < .05). Our study shows that the chronic practice of an activity leads to differently balanced force-velocity profiles. Moreover, the differences between measured and optimal force-velocity profiles raise potential sources of performance improvement in elite athletes.
authors.affiliation: French National Institute of Sport (INSEP), Research Department, Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giroux
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rabita
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chollet
authors.forename: Gaël
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guilhem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*