Affiliations: [a] Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical
Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil | [b] College of Physical Education and Exercise Science,
University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil | [c] Department of Kinesiology, California State
University, Fullerton, CA, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Eurico Nestor Wilhelm, Exercise Research
Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do
Sul, Felizardo Street, 750, Jardim Botânico, CEP: 90690-200, Porto
Alegre, RS, Brazil. Tel.: +55 11 51 3308 5845; Fax: +55 11 51 3308 5843;
E-mail: euricowilhelm@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The quadriceps rate of torque development
(RTD) is frequently used to evaluate explosive performance, but its functional
meaning has been questioned. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate if
isometric quadriceps RTD correlates with multi-joint dynamic performance and if
it has greater correlation with dynamic performance than with a single-joint
isokinetic test in soccer players. METHODS: Thirty-nine male soccer players (age 21 ± 5 years,
body mass 75 ± 7.5 kg, height 179 ± 5 cm) performed five maximal
concentric knee extension isokinetic contractions at a velocity of 180°/s,
followed by three maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) with knee
angle of 60°, and five countermovement jumps (CMJ). The RTD was derived
from MIVC over various time intervals (of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 seconds, and peak
RTD) and CMJ height was calculated by flight time method. Pearson Product
Moment Correlations were used to determine the relationships between variables.
RESULTS: Absolute and relative isokinetic PT correlated positively
with CMJ height (p< 0.001, r=0.513 and p=0.0007, r=0.521, respectively).
However, none of the isometric RTD measures showed significant relationship
with CMJ height (p> 0.05, r from −0.272 to 0.296). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that single-joint isometric RTD
does not correlate with dynamic multi-joint performance. Thus, more specific
tests in relation to contraction type, velocity and/or movement pattern should
be used.
