Isokinetic testing: Sensitivity of the force-velocity relationship assessed through the two-point method to discriminate between muscle groups and participants’ physical activity levels

Abstract

Background: Isokinetic testing has been routinely used to assess the capacities of individual muscle groups. In this study we aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of the force-point (F-v) relationship assessed through the two-point method to discriminate between antagonist muscle groups and males with different physical activity levels. Methods: The concentric force output of the knee, hip, elbow, and shoulder flexors and extensors of 27 active and 13 non-active men was recorded at 60 and 180◦ /s to determine the F-v relationship parameters (maximum force [F0 ], maximum velocity [v0 ], and maximum power [Pmax ]). Results: F0 and Pmax were higher for knee extensors (effect size [ES] = 1.97 and 0.57, respectively), hip extensors (ES = 2.52 and 0.77, respectively), and shoulder flexors (ES = 1.67 and 0.83, respectively) compared to their antagonist muscles, while v0 was higher for knee flexors compared to knee extensors (ES = 0.59). Active males revealed higher F0 for knee extensors (ES = 0.72) and knee flexors (ES = 0.83) and higher Pmax for knee flexors (ES = 0.70), elbow extensors (ES = 0.83) and shoulder extensors (ES = 0.36). Conclusions: The sensitivity of the two-point method for testing the maximal mechanical capacities was high for the knee, moderate for the hip and shoulder, and low for the elbow joint.