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Erschienen in: European Journal of Applied Physiology 1/2019

26.10.2018 | Original Article

A novel method to assess rate of force relaxation: reliability and comparisons with rate of force development across various muscles

verfasst von: Ryan M. Mathern, Mitchel Anhorn, Mehmet Uygur

Erschienen in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Ausgabe 1/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

The ability to generate quick submaximal muscle forces followed by quick relaxations is essential for various athletic and daily tasks. While force generation has been studied extensively, the studies of force relaxation are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to develop the rate of force relaxation scaling factor (RFR-SF) as a kinetic variable to assess the ability to relax submaximal muscle forces quickly.

Methods

Thirteen young adults performed rapid isometric force pulses to various submaximal levels in two different sessions. We compared RFR-SF with rate of development scaling factor (RFD-SF) in grip force muscles (GF), elbow (EE), and knee extensors (KE) and tested its reliability. Both RFD-SF and RFR-SF were calculated as the slopes of the linear relationship between peak forces and the corresponding peak rates of force development and relaxation, respectively.

Results

RFR-SFs were mainly different among the tested muscle groups (GF 8.22 ± 0.76 1/s; EE 7.64 ± 0.92 1/s; KE 6.01 ± 1.75 1/s) and there was no correlation among them (all p > 0.05). Within each tested muscle group, RFR-SF was lower than RFD-SF (GF 9.29 ± 1.05 1/s; EE 10.75 ± 0.87 1/s; KE 9.66 ± 0.89 1/s; all p < 0.001). The reliability of RFR-SF was moderate to good across the tested muscles (ICCs between 0.54 and 0.76 and all CVs < 15%).

Conclusion

The RFR-SF is a clinically relevant kinetic variable that can reliably quantify the ability to relax a muscle force quickly. Future studies should assess both RFD-SF and RFR-SF as they represent different properties of the neuromuscular system.
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Metadaten
Titel
A novel method to assess rate of force relaxation: reliability and comparisons with rate of force development across various muscles
verfasst von
Ryan M. Mathern
Mitchel Anhorn
Mehmet Uygur
Publikationsdatum
26.10.2018
Verlag
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in
European Journal of Applied Physiology / Ausgabe 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Elektronische ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-4024-7

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