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Updated: Mar 23, 2026

Construction of Constant-Load (Isotonic) and Constant-Velocity (Isokinetic) Torque-Velocity-Power Profiles In vivo for the Rat Plantar Flexors
Published on: October 3, 2025
Differential impact of visual feedback on plantar- and dorsi-flexion maximal torque output
Anis Toumi1, Jennifer M Jakobi2, Emilie Simoneau-Buessinger1
1a Laboratoire d'Automatique, de Mécanique, et d'Informatique industrielles et Humaines (LAMIH) - UMR CNRS 8201, Université de Valenciennes et du Hainaut-Cambrésis (UVHC), F-59313 Valenciennes, France.
Visual feedback significantly enhanced plantar-flexion maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) by approximately 15%. However, visual feedback did not affect dorsi-flexion MVC, highlighting the importance of feedback type for muscle activation.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Motor Control
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) are crucial for assessing muscle strength.
- Visual feedback is often used to enhance motor performance.
- The specific impact of visual feedback on different muscle groups' MVC requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of visual feedback on isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of the plantar-flexion and dorsi-flexion muscles.
- To compare the influence of different visual feedback conditions (no feedback, visual feedback, visual feedback with target) on MVC performance.
Main Methods:
- Twelve healthy adults participated in the study.
- Participants performed isometric plantar-flexion and dorsi-flexion MVCs under three visual feedback conditions.
- MVC force was measured for each condition.
Main Results:
- Visual feedback significantly increased plantar-flexion MVC by approximately 15%.
- No significant effect of visual feedback conditions was observed for dorsi-flexion MVC.
- The presence of a visual target did not further enhance the effect of visual feedback on plantar-flexion MVC.
Conclusions:
- Visual feedback can be an effective strategy for enhancing plantar-flexion MVC.
- The effectiveness of visual feedback in augmenting MVC may be muscle-specific.
- Optimizing feedback strategies is important for maximizing muscle force output.

