Since body balance and weight-bearing factors present while running on the treadmill
might cause additional muscle recruitment and thus could influence the force-velocity
relationship and power, the present study was undertaken to find out whether the F-V
and F-P relationships measured while running on the treadmill are different from the
respective indices measured during cycling. On two separate occasions, 32 male subjects
were tested using a series of 5 sec, all-out sprints against different braking forces
on the Cymrol Sprint treadmill and on the Monark ergometer. The maximal peak power
(PPmax) and maximal mean power (MPmax) were measured. The equation: EP = 0.5 maximal force (Fo) x 0.5 maximal velocity
(Vo) was used to calculate the estimated values of peak power (EPP) and mean power
(EMP). The F-V relationship was linear in both cycle ergometer and treadmill measurements.
PPmax, MPmax, EPP, and EMP values on the treadmill were lower than the respective values on the
ergometer. EPP on the ergometer and on the treadmill, as well as EMP values on the
ergometer, were slightly higher than the corresponding measured values of PPmax and MPmax. The levels of braking force at which PP, MP, PPmax, and MPmax were obtained were
lower on the ergometer than on the treadmill. High correlation coefficients were found
between PPmax, MPmax, EPP, and EMP measured on the ergometer and on the treadmill (r = 0.86, r = 0.84,
r = 0.71, r = 0.78, respectively, P<0.01). In both tests, significant relationships
between PPmax, MPmax, EPP, and EMP were observed. It is concluded that independent of the type of ergometry
the force-velocity relationship is similar in the measured range of velocities which
suggests that the number of muscle groups and joints engaged in movement are more
important than body balance and weight-bearing factors present while running on a
treadmill.
Key words
Force-velocity - force power - relationships - running - ergometry
