Relationships between isometric force-time characteristics and dynamic performance

Dos'Santos, T; Thomas, C; Comfort, P; McMahon, JJ; Jones, PA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) force-time characteristics (peak force and time-specific force vales (100–250 ms)) and dynamic performance and compare dynamic performance between stronger and weaker athletes. Forty-three athletes from different sports (rowing, soccer, bicycle motocross, and hockey) performed three trials of the squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and IMTP, and performed a one repetition maximum power clean (PC). Reactive strength index modified (RSImod) was also calculated from the CMJ. Statistically significant large correlations between IMTP force-time characteristics and PC (ρ = 0.569–0.674, p < 0.001), and moderate correlations between IMTP force-time characteristics (excluding force at 100 ms) and RSImod (ρ = 0.389–0.449, p = 0.013–0.050) were observed. Only force at 250 ms demonstrated a statistically significant moderate correlation with CMJ height (ρ = 0.346, p = 0.016) and no statistically significant associations were observed between IMTP force-time characteristics and SJ height. Stronger athletes (top 10) demonstrated statistically significantly greater CMJ heights, RSImods, and PCs (p ≤ 0.004, g = 1.32–1.89) compared to weaker (bottom 10) athletes, but no differences in SJ height were observed (p = 0.871, g = 0.06). These findings highlight that the ability to apply rapidly high levels of force in short time intervals is integral for PC, CMJ height, and reactive strength.

Citation

Dos'Santos, T., Thomas, C., Comfort, P., McMahon, J., & Jones, P. (2017). Relationships between isometric force-time characteristics and dynamic performance. Sports, 5(3), https://doi.org/10.3390/sports5030068

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 11, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Sep 13, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 13, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jul 18, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 18, 2018
• Journal: Sports
• Publisher: MDPI
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports5030068
• Keywords: countermovement jump, isometric mid-thigh pull, peak force, power clean, reactive strength index modified, squat jump, time-specific force
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports5030068
• Related Public URLs: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sports