Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to explore the feasibility of vertical force–velocity (F–V) profiles to monitor changes in muscle function following different fatigue protocols. The between-day reliability of vertical F–V profiles and the acute effects of two fatigue protocols on the changes of lower limb muscle function were examined.
Methods
Twelve resistance trained males completed a preliminary session to determine their back squat one-repetition maximum (1RM). Afterwards, they randomly performed two experimental sessions that only differed in the fatigue protocol applied: heavy-load traditional (HLT; five repetitions at 80% 1RM) and light-load ballistic (LLB; five repetitions at 30% 1RM) squat protocols. Participants’ vertical F–V profiles (maximum theoretical force [F0], maximum theoretical velocity [v0], and maximum power output [Pmax]) were calculated before and immediately after each fatigue protocol.
Results
F0, v0, and Pmax showed acceptable to good between-day reliability (coefficient of variation ≤ 4.4%; intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.84). Both fatigue protocols promoted a comparable reduction in Pmax (−10.1% for HLT and −12.2% for LLB). However, the LLB squat protocol reduced more v0 (−9.7%) than F0 (−0.4%), while the HLT squat protocol reduced F0 (−8.4%) more than v0 (−4.1%).
Conclusions
The vertical F–V profile can be used to monitor changes in muscle function given its acceptable between-day reliability and its high sensitivity to detect the acute effect of force-oriented and velocity-oriented fatigue protocols on specific maximal neuromuscular capacities.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Zhaoqian Li, upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- 1RM:
-
One repetition maximum
- F 0 :
-
Regression parameter (F-intercept) depicting maximum force
- F–V slope:
-
Slope of the linear vertical F–V profiles
- g :
-
Gravitational acceleration
- h :
-
Jump height
- h po :
-
Push-off distance
- HLT:
-
Heavy-load traditional
- LLB:
-
Light-load ballistic
- M :
-
System mass
- P max :
-
Regression parameter [(F0⋅v0)/4] depicting maximum power
- t :
-
Flight time
- v 0 :
-
Regression parameter (V-intercept) depicting maximum velocity
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Acknowledgements
The students (ZL, PZ, ZY) thank Dr Bill Haug for his help during the study and research at Loughborough University. This study is part of a PhD thesis conducted in the Biomedicine Doctoral Studies of the University of Granada, Spain. The first author was funded by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) with grant from the Ministry of Education of P. R. China. Grant number. 202308390053.
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ZL, AG and MK conceived and designed research. ZL, PZ and ZY conducted experiments. ZL and AG analyzed data. ZL, MK and AG wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Li, Z., Zhi, P., Yuan, Z. et al. Feasibility of vertical force–velocity profiles to monitor changes in muscle function following different fatigue protocols. Eur J Appl Physiol 124, 365–374 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05283-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05283-4