Feasibility of the two-point method for assessing the force-velocity relationship during lower-body and upper-body isokinetic tests

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) evaluate the shape of the force-velocity (F-V) relationship obtained from different muscles, (2) explore the concurrent validity of the two-point method with respect to the multiple-point method, (3) evaluate whether the F-V relationship can discriminate between muscle groups and genders, and (4) explore the generalisability of the same F-V relationship parameters (maximal force [F0], maximal velocity [V0]), and maximal power [P0]) between different tasks. The F-V relationship of 22 physically active participants (12 women) were tested during knee extension, knee flexion, elbow extension and elbow flexion through the multiple- (eight velocities: 30-60-90-120- 150-180-210-240º/s) and two-point (two velocities: 60–180º/s) methods. The findings revealed (1) highly linear F-V relationships (r ≥ 0.893), (2) high concurrent validity of the two-point method for F0, but lower for V0 and P0, (3) the outcomes of both methods were sensitive to the muscle groups (higher for knee muscles) and gender (higher for men), and (4) the magnitude of the same F-V parameters were poorly correlated between different tasks (median r < 0.1). These results support the two-point method as a valid and sensitive procedure for determining the maximal capacities of the muscles to produce F, but not V, during isokinetic tests.