Force variability during isometric wrist flexion in highly skilled and sedentary individuals.

The association of expertness in specific motor activities with a higher ability to sustain a constant application of force, regardless of muscle length, has been hypothesized. Ten highly skilled (HS group) young tennis and handball athletes and 10 sedentary (S group) individuals performed maximal and submaximal (5, 10, 20, 50, and 75% of the MVC) isometric wrist flexions on an isokinetic dynamometer (Kin-Com, Chattanooga). The wrist joint was fixed at five different angles (230, 210, 180, 150, and 1300). For each position the percentages of the maximal isometric force were calculated and participants were asked to maintain the respective force level for 5 s. Electromyographic (EMG) activation of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris and Extensor Digitorum muscles was recorded using bipolar surface electrodes. No significant differences were observed in maximal isometric strength between HS and S groups. Participants of HS group showed significantly (P < 0.05) smaller force coefficient of variability (CV) and SD values at all submaximal levels of MVC at all wrist angles. The CV and SD values remained unaltered regardless of wrist angle. No difference in normalized agonist and antagonist EMG activity was observed between the two groups. It is concluded that long-term practice could be associated with decreased isometric force variability independently from muscular length and coactivation of the antagonist muscles.

Functional performance, maximal strength, and power characteristics in isometric and dynamic actions of lower extremities in soccer players.

The purposes of the present study were to determine muscle strength and power output characteristics in a group of professional soccer players and to identify their relationships with 2 functional performance tests (vertical jumping height and 15-m sprint time). Maximal strength and power indices attained against different loads in barbell back squat exercise, isometric maximal force of the knee extensor and plantar flexor muscles, isokinetic peak torque of the knee extensors muscles, vertical jumping height in squat and counter-movement jumps, and 15-m sprint time tests were assessed in 21 semiprofessional soccer players (age 20 +/- 3.8 years). Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationship between each of these measures. The main results of the present study were that (a) maximal power in concentric half-squat exercise was attained with a load of 60% of 1 repetition maximum, representing 112% of body weight; (b) the performance in the functional tests selected was significantly related with all the half-squat variables measured, especially with loads of 75-125% of body weight; and (c) low to nonsignificant correlations were found between functional tests performance and isometric and isokinetic muscle strength measures. It was concluded that in semiprofessional soccer players (a) isometric and isokinetic muscle strength assessed in an open kinetic chain were not movement-specific enough to predict performance during a more complex movement, such as jump or sprint and (b) concentric half-squat exercise was principally related with the functional tests selected when it was performed against external loading within the range of the load in case of which the maximal power output was attained.