Eccentric Force Velocity Profiling: Motor Control Strategy Considerations and Relationships to Strength and Jump Performance

Abstract

Barker, L, Siedlik, J, Magrini, M, Uesato, S, Wang, H, Sjovold, A, Ewing, G, and Harry, JR. Eccentric force velocity profiling: motor control strategy considerations and relationships to strength and jump performance. J Strength Cond Res 37(3): 574-580, 2023 - Currently, no studies exist on the eccentric force-velocity profile (eFVP) during drop landings from increasing drop heights, which may reveal an athlete's braking capacity and control strategies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the eFVP during bilateral drop landings from increasing drop heights. A secondary purpose was to explore and determine relevant relationships between the eFVP and common metrics like relative strength and jumping performance. Overall, 19 recreationally trained athletes from the university completed a 1-reptition maximum back squat, countermovement jumps, squat jumps, drop jumps, and drop landings from 0.3 to 1.52-m box heights in 0.15-m increments. Average force and velocity from the peak drop landing trial was used to generate an eFVP. The mean linear eFVP was -6.65x + 14.73, and the mean second order polynomial eFVP was -1.37x2 - 25.84x + 0.17. The second-order polynomial fit the data better with large effect (dunb = 1.05, p < 0.05). No significant correlations between the eFVP coefficients and the strength and jumping measurements were observed. Future research could investigate how training can influence the eFVP. Eccentric force production during landing may be a unique quality that requires specific development strategies, such has fast or slow eccentric training.