title: Rate of force development: physiological and methodological considerations.
abstract: The evaluation of rate of force development during rapid contractions has recently become quite popular for characterising explosive strength of athletes, elderly individuals and patients. The main aims of this narrative review are to describe the neuromuscular determinants of rate of force development and to discuss various methodological considerations inherent to its evaluation for research and clinical purposes. Rate of force development (1) seems to be mainly determined by the capacity to produce maximal voluntary activation in the early phase of an explosive contraction (first 50-75 ms), particularly as a result of increased motor unit discharge rate; (2) can be improved by both explosive-type and heavy-resistance strength training in different subject populations, mainly through an improvement in rapid muscle activation; (3) is quite difficult to evaluate in a valid and reliable way. Therefore, we provide evidence-based practical recommendations for rational quantification of rate of force development in both laboratory and clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Lab, Schulthess Clinic, Lengghalde 6, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland. nicola.maffiuletti@kws.ch.
authors.forename: Nicola A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Maffiuletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, SDU Muscle Research Cluster (SMRC), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aagaard
authors.affiliation: Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research (CESSR), School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Blazevich
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Folland
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, UK.
authors.forename: Neale
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tillin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Biology, ULB Neurosciences Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duchateau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Ballistic contraction; Dynamometry; Explosive strength; Motor unit discharge rate; Musculotendinous stiffness; Strength training