Force-velocity Relationship of Leg Muscles Assessed by Motorized Treadmill Tests

We aimed to explore the properties of the F-V relationship of leg muscles exerting the maximum pulling F within a wide range of V set on a standard motorized treadmill. Subjects exerted maximum horizontally pulling F while walking on a treadmill set to 8 different V (1.4 3.3 m/s). The obtained F-V relationships proved to be linear and strong (all R > 0.84), while their parameters depicting the leg muscle capacities for producing maximum F, V, and power (i.e., the maximum product of F and V) were highly reliable (0.84 < ICC < 0.97; 6.4 < CV% < 19.3). Moreover, when obtained from only the lowest and highest V the F-V relationships revealed virtually identical outcomes. We conclude that the evaluated procedure could be developed into an ecologically valid and reliable protocol for routine testing of the F, V, and P-producing capacities of leg muscles.