Load-velocity relationship variables to assess the maximal neuromuscular capacities during the back-squat exercise

Alejandro Pérez-Castilla, Ivan Jukic, Danica Janicijevic, Zeki Akyildiz, Deniz Senturk, Amador García-Ramos*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background:
The relationship between the external load lifted and movement velocity can be modeled by a simple linear regression, and the variables derived from the load-velocity (L-V) relationship were recently used to estimate the maximal neuromuscular capacities during 2 variants of the back-squat exercise.

Hypothesis:
The L-V relationship variables will be highly reliable and will be highly associated with the traditional tests commonly used to evaluate the maximal force and power.

Study Design:
Twenty-four male wrestlers performed 5 testing sessions (a 1-repetition maximum [1RM] session, and 4 experimental sessions [2 with the concentric-only back-squat and 2 with the eccentric-concentric back-squat]). Each experimental session consisted of performing 3 repetitions against 5 loads (45%-55%-65%-75%-85% of the 1RM), followed by single 1RM attempts.

Level of Evidence:
Level 3.

Methods:
Individual L-V relationships were modeled from the mean velocity collected under all loading conditions from which the following 3 variables were calculated: load-axis intercept (L0), velocity-axis intercept (v0), and area under the line (Aline = Lv0/2). The back-squat 1RM strength and the maximum power determined as the apex of the power-velocity relationship (Pmax) were also determined as traditional measures of maximal force and power capacities, respectively.

Results:
The between-session reliability was high for the Aline (coefficient of variation [CV] range = 2.58%-4.37%; intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] range = 0.98-0.99) and generally acceptable for L0 and v0 (CV range = 5.08%-9.01%; ICC range = 0.45-0.96). Regarding the concurrent validity, the correlations were very large between L0 and the 1RM strength (rrange = 0.87-0.88) and nearly perfect between Aline and Pmax (r = 0.98-0.99).

Conclusion:
The load-velocity relationship variables can be obtained with a high reliability (L0, v0, and Aline) and validity (L0 and Aline) during the back-squat exercise.

Clinical Relevance:
The load-velocity relationship modeling represents a quick and simple procedure to estimate the maximal neuromuscular capacities of lower-body muscles.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)885-893
Number of pages9
JournalSports Health
Volume14
Issue number6
Early online date3 Feb 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Force-velocity relationship
  • Reliability
  • Stretch-shortening cycle
  • Validity
  • Velocity-based training

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