In recent years, the knee extensor forces of athletes have usually been evaluated by measuring isokinetic output torque. The purpose of this study was to confirm the usefulness of normalizing the torque (force) -velocity curve and calculating the maximal power of knee extensor under isokinetic contraction.
Seventy two (46 elite, 26 non-elite) Japanese male sprinters were chosen as the subjects in this study. The peak torque of the dominant side of knee extensor was measured by using the isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex II⁺) in three different angular velocities of 60, 180, 300 deg/sec. Moreover, the isometric torque (0 deg/sec) was measured in 39 athletes, 120 and 240 deg/sec of contraction were performed in 12 out of 39 athletes.
The exponent equation (F = F_o× e^av- kv : Fenn 1935) was applied to normalize the torquevelocity curve without including the coefficient of viscosity (k) . The maximal power and its optimal velocity was presumed from this torque-velocity curve. The average of measured torque at 0 deg/sec contraction (F₀) was lower than that of 60 deg/sec, thereforeF₀was presumed as the same as the maximal power. Those parameters were not significantly different when calculated from 3 velocities (60, 180, 300 deg/sec) and 5 velocities (plus 120, 240 deg/sec) in 12 athletes. For this reason, each parameter was calculated from 3 velocities.
The maximal torque (F₀/BW) was the same between elite and non-elite group (4.0 Nm/kg) . Nevertheless, the coefficient of torque loss (a), maximal power and its optimal velocity were significantly different (-0.1586 : -0.1908, 9.6 : 7.8 watt/kg, 373: 309 deg/sec, respectively. P<0.01 Student-t) . It was said that to normalize the torque-velocity curve or to presume the maximal knee extension power and its optimal velocity were useful to assess the muscle function or the performance of athletes under isokinetic contraction.