What is the force velocity curve in muscle contraction?

The force-velocity relationship in muscle relates the speed at which a muscle changes length with the force of this contraction and the resultant power output (force x velocity = power).

What does the force velocity curve represent?

The force-velocity curve is a physical representation of the inverse relationship between force and velocity. Understanding the interaction between force and velocity and their influences on exercise selection is vital for any strength and conditioning professional.

How does the force velocity curve affect performance?

The force velocity curve shifts according to the training plan. If the training plan is aimed to produce strength trained athlete, then it shifts towards left. On the other hand, if the aim is to gain speed and to produce speed trained athlete, then it shifts to right.

How do force and velocity affect muscle contraction?

According to the force-velocity relationship [2,3], the force generated by actively contracting muscle decreases as the shortening velocity increases until the maximal unloaded shortening velocity (Vmax) is reached.

Does force increase with velocity?

The force that the muscles can produce decreases at a given pre-determined velocity (computer-controlled in vivo isokinetic/isovelocity modalities) as that velocity increases. The F-V relationship assumes that at a given velocity, the muscles are generating the maximum force possible.

Why does force decrease as velocity increases?

Because it takes a finite amount of time for cross-bridges to attach, as filaments slide past one another faster and faster (i.e., as the muscle shortens with increasing velocity), force decreases due to the lower number of cross-bridges attached.

What is force * velocity?

Since work is force times displacement (W=F*d), and velocity is displacement over time (v=d/t), power equals force times velocity: P = F*v. More power is seen when the system is both strong in force and fast in velocity.

Does velocity affect force?

Apply force to an object, and its velocity changes. This does not work the other way around — you cannot apply velocity to an object and change its force. Velocity does not act on an object. A force pushes or pulls on an object, but velocity is simply something an object has.

How is force-velocity curve affected by muscular strength training?

In physics, power is the result of force times velocity. Thus, the two form an inverse relationship. According to the Science and Practice of Strength Training, slower velocities allow people more time to form cross bridges within the muscle. Therefore, the muscle can produce more force.

Is force inversely proportional to velocity?

We know that force is inversely proportional to the velocity when power is constant.

What is the muscle force-velocity relationship?

The force-velocity relationship in muscle relates the speed at which a muscle changes length to the force of this contraction and the resultant power output (force x velocity = power).

What is the force-velocity curve?

The force-velocity curve is a physical representation of the inverse relationship between force and velocity. Understanding the interaction between force and velocity and their influences on exercise selection is vital for any strength and conditioning professional.

What is the maximum speed that a muscle can twitch?

For human muscles, maximum shortening velocities are two and six fiber lengths/s [ l0/s] for slow and fast twitch muscles, respectively ( Faulkner et al., 1986 ). By comparison, mouse and rat muscles are much faster (ST: 6–13 l0 /s, FT: 9–24 l0 /s; Close, 1965; Ranatunga and Thomas, 1990 ).

Do slow muscles have a larger force-velocity relationship than fast muscles?

It has generally been found that slow muscles (ST—slow twitch) exhibit a larger curvature of the force-velocity relationship (corresponding to smaller curv values) than fast ones (FT—fast twitch) ( Close, 1972 ). Further, the force-velocity curve becomes more linear with increasing temperature ( curv values increase; Ranatunga, 1984 ).

Why does the force velocity curve shift to the right?

Shifting the force-velocity curve to the right represents an improved rate of force development (RFD). The RFD simply reflects how fast an athlete can develop force. An athlete with greater RFD capabilities will be more explosive as they can develop larger forces in a shorter period of time.