Different Knee and Ankle Positions Affect Force and Muscle Activation During Prone Leg Curl in Trained Subjects

Marchetti, PH, Magalhaes, RA, Gomes, WA, da Silva, JJ, Stecyk, SD, and Whiting, WC. Different knee and ankle positions affect force and muscle activation during prone leg curl in trained subjects. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3322-3326, 2021-Different joint positions for biarticular muscles may affect force and muscular activity during single-joint exercises. The aim of this study was to compare the maximal isometric contractions and muscle activation in 2 different knee and ankle positions during prone leg curl exercise in trained subjects. Fifteen resistance-trained men (27 ± 4 years, 178.80 ± 5.72 cm, 86.87 ± 12.51 kg) were recruited. The peak force (PF) and muscle activation of biceps femoris, gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and soleus lateralis (SL) were measured during knee flexion at 0 and 90° and maximal dorsiflexion (D) or plantarflexion (P). Three maximal voluntary isometric contractions of 5 seconds were performed for each combination of knee and ankle positions. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variances were used for all dependent variables. For PF, there was a significant difference between ankle positions (D × P) at 90° (p = 0.009) and knee positions (0 × 90°) for D (p < 0.001) and P (p < 0.001). Peak force was greater with the knee at 0° and the ankle maximally dorsiflexed. For GL, there was a significant difference between ankle (D × P) at 0° (p = 0.002) and knee positions (0 × 90°) for D (p = 0.005). Gastrocnemius lateralis activation was greater with the knee at 90° of flexion and the ankle maximally dorsiflexed. For SL, there was a significant difference between ankle positions (D × P): at 90° (p = 0.001) and at 0° (p = 0.002). Soleus lateralis is more active in plantarflexion irrespective of the knee joint position. Isometric contractions with full knee extension produce more strength regardless of the ankle position; neither the knee position nor the ankle position may influence the activity of the hamstrings.