Abstract
A group of 15 untrained male subjects pedalled on a friction-loaded cycle ergometer as fast as possible for 5–7 s to reach the maximal velocity (V{immax}) against different braking forces (F B). Power was averaged during a complete crank rotation by adding the power dissipated againstF B to the power necessary to accelerate the flywheel. For each sprint, determinations were made of peak power output (\(\dot W_{peak}\)) power output attained atV max (\(\dot W_{vmax}\)) calculated as the product ofV max andF B and the work performed to reachV max expressed in mean power output (\(\bar \dot W_{vmax}\)). The relationships between these parameters andF B were examined. A biopsy taken from the vastus lateralis muscle and tomodensitometric radiographs of both thighs were taken at rest to identify muscle metabolic and morphometric properties. The\(\dot W_{peak}\) value was similar for allF B. Therefore, the average of values was defined as corrected maximal power (\(\dot W_{max}\)). This value was 11 higher than the maximal power output uncorrected for the acceleration. Whereas the\(\dot W_{max}\) determination did not require high loads, the highest\(\bar \dot W_{vmax}\) value (\(\bar \dot W_{max}\)) was produced when loading was heavy, as evidenced by the\(\bar \dot W_{vmax}\)-F B parabolic relationship. For each subject, the braking force (\(F_{B,\bar \dot W_{max} }\)) giving\(\bar \dot W_{max}\) was defined as optimal. The\(F_{B,\bar \dot W_{max} }\), equal to 0.844 (SD 0.108) N · kg−1 bodymass, was related to thigh muscle area (r = 0.78,P < 0.05). The maximal velocity (\(\upsilon _{m,\bar \dot W_{\max } }\)) reached against this force seemed to be related more to intrinsic fibre properties (% fast twitch b fibre area and adenylate kinase activity). Thus, from the\(\dot W_{max}\) determination, it is suggested that it should be possible to predict the conditions for optimal exercise on a cycle ergometer.
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Linossier, M.T., Dormois, D., Fouquet, R. et al. Use of the force-velocity test to determine the optimal braking force for a sprint exercise on a friction-loaded cycle ergometer. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 74, 420–427 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02337722
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02337722