Treadmill measurement of the force‐velocity relationship and power output in subjects with different maximal running velocities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate the gross body force‐velocity (F‐V) relationship on a newly developed motorized treadmill (Gymrol, France) in subjects who differed in their predicted maximal running velocity (Vmax) calculated from the F‐V relationship. Of the 32 subjects tested, those with the 14 highest Vmax values were assigned to a fast group (FG) and those with the lowest 13 Vmax values to a slow group (SG). The F‐ V relationship during two testing sessions was obtained from six 5‐s, all‐out sprints against different resistance settings that were 5%, 8%, 10%, 13%, 15% and 20% of the maximal value the treadmill could produce. The F‐V relationship fitted a linear regression in both groups. The individual correlation coefficients for the F‐ V relationship during the first session ranged from —0.992 to —0.997, and during the second session from —0.989 to —0.998, with no significant differences between sessions. The Vmax was significantly higher in FG (Vmax = 7.20±0.32m/s) than in the SG (Vmax = ...