Evaluation of the torque-angular velocity relationship across various joint positions

Standard neuromuscular assessment through a single value, such as the maximum voluntary torque, could be limited since it changes substantially with movement velocity and joint position and could not discern among force, velocity or power producing capacities of a specific muscle. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the torque-angular velocity (T-AV) interchange across various joint positions.

Knee extensors were tested in 40 physically active participants at six velocities between 30° and 180°/s. Both, linear and the second-order polynomial regression methods were applied on peak torque (TMAX) and angle specific torque outputs (between 80° to 20° of knee extension).

The obtained results suggest decline of the concentric torque as angular velocity increases (P<0.05). The obtained the T-AV relationship appears to be strong and linear for the most subjects (R2=0.74-0.97) and highly reliable (r>0.80) at least when the positions around the TMAX angle are considered.

The present study revealed that the T-AV relationship of knee extensors, observed from isokinetic tests conducted within a wide range of angular velocities, could be strong, linear and reliable. The results demonstrate that linear regression method could be feasible approach for evaluating individual muscle mechanical capacities.