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Effect of countermovement on power–force–velocity profile

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Abstract

Purpose

To study the effect of a countermovement on the lower limb force–velocity (F–v) mechanical profile and to experimentally test the influence of F–v mechanical profile on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, independently from the effect of maximal power output (P max).

Methods

Fifty-four high-level sprinters and jumpers performed vertical maximal CMJ and squat jump (SJ) against five to eight additional loads ranging from 17 to 87 kg. Vertical ground reaction force data were recorded (1,000 Hz) and used to compute center of mass vertical displacement. For each condition, mean force, velocity, and power output were determined over the entire push-off phase of the best trial, and used to determine individual linear F–v relationships and P max. From a previously validated biomechanical model, the optimal F–v profile maximizing jumping performance was determined for each subject and used to compute the individual mechanical F–v imbalance (Fv IMB) as the difference between actual and optimal F–v profiles.

Results

A multiple regression analysis clearly showed (r 2 = 0.952, P < 0.001, SEE 0.011 m) that P max, Fv IMB and lower limb extension range (h PO) explained a significant part of the interindividual differences in CMJ performance (P < 0.001) with positive regression coefficients for P max and h PO and a negative one for Fv IMB.

Conclusion

Compared to SJ, F–v relationships were shifted to the right in CMJ, with higher P max, maximal theoretical force and velocity (+35.8, 20.6 and 13.3 %, respectively). As in SJ, CMJ performance depends on Fv IMB, independently from the effect of P max, with the existence of an individual optimal F–v profile (Fv IMB having an even larger influence in CMJ).

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Abbreviations

SJ:

Squat jump

CMJ:

Countermovement jump

F–v :

Force–velocity

P–v :

Power–velocity

P max :

Maximal power output

\( \overline{F} \) :

Mean force

\( \overline{v} \) :

Mean velocity

\( \overline{P} \) :

Mean power

h PO :

Vertical distance covered by the CM during push-off

Fv IMB :

F–v imbalance

S Fv :

F–v profile

S Fvopt:

Optimal F–v profile

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank coaches and athletes for their “explosive” and “powerful” implication in the protocol. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Physical Sciences and Sport, Catholic University of San Antonio, Murcia, Spain

    Pedro Jiménez-Reyes

  2. Laboratory of Exercise Physiology (EA4338), University of Savoie, Le Bourget du Lac, France

    Pierre Samozino

  3. Faculty of Education, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Víctor Cuadrado-Peñafiel

  4. LABIOMEP, Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Filipe Conceição

  5. Faculty of Sport, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain

    Juan José González-Badillo

  6. Laboratory of Exercise Physiology (EA4338), University of Lyon, 42000, Saint Etienne, France

    Jean-Benoît Morin

  7. Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Campus de los Jerónimos s/n, 30107, Guadalupe, Murcia, Spain

    Pedro Jiménez-Reyes

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  1. Pedro Jiménez-Reyes
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  2. Pierre Samozino
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  3. Víctor Cuadrado-Peñafiel
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  4. Filipe Conceição
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  5. Juan José González-Badillo
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  6. Jean-Benoît Morin
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Correspondence to Pedro Jiménez-Reyes.

Additional information

Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

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Jiménez-Reyes, P., Samozino, P., Cuadrado-Peñafiel, V. et al. Effect of countermovement on power–force–velocity profile. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 2281–2288 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2947-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2947-1

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