Search results for "Knee joint"
showing 10 items of 177 documents
Isokinetic strength and anaerobic power of elite, subelite and amateur French soccer players.
2001
Information about the influence of different practice levels on physical characteristics of a large number of soccer players is lacking. Therefore we assessed muscular strength and anaerobic power of elite, subelite and amateur soccer players to clarify what parameters distinguish the top players from the less successful. We tested 95 soccer players from the French first division (elite), second division (subelite), and amateurs and determined the isokinetic strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles at angular velocities from -120 degrees x s(-1) to 300 degrees x s(-1). Vertical jump, 10 m sprint, 30 m sprint and maximum ball speed during shooting were also measured. The elite player…
The Effects of Electromyostimulation Training and Basketball Practice on Muscle Strength and Jumping Ability
2000
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a 4-week electromyostimulation training program on the strength of the knee extensors and the vertical jump performance of 10 basketball players. Electromyostimulation sessions were carried out 3 times weekly; each session consisted of 48 contractions. Testing was carried out before and after the electromyostimulation training program (week 4) and once more after 4 weeks of normal basketball training (week 8). At week 4, isokinetic strength increased significantly (p < 0.05) at eccentric and high concentric velocities (between 180 and 360 x s(-1)); this was not the case for low concentric velocities (60 and 120 degrees x s(-1)). Elec…
Comparison of running kinematics between elite and national-standard 1500-m runners.
2009
The aim of this study was to determine whether elite 1500-m runners differ in their running kinematics from national-standard 1500-m runners. Six national-standard male runners (seasonal best: 3 min 49.2 s +/- 3.2 s) were assessed during the second lap of a 1500-m race. Their running kinematics was then compared with those of five elite runners (seasonal best: 3 min 35.6 s +/- 2.6 s) analysed during the second lap of the men's 1500-m final at the 2005 World Championships. Data were collected using two high-speed cameras operating at 200 Hz with a three-dimensional pan and tilt system. Running speed was the same for both groups. Despite the similar contact times, the minimum knee angle durin…
Neuromuscular Fatigue Following Isometric Contractions with Similar Torque Time Integral
2014
International audience; Torque time integral (TTI) is the combination of intensity and duration of a contraction. The aim of this study was to compare neuromuscular alterations following different isometric sub-maximal contractions of the knee extensor muscles but with similar TTI. Sixteen participants performed 3 sustained contractions at different intensities (25 %, 50 %, and 75 % of Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC) torque) with different durations (68.5 +/- 33.4 s, 35.1 +/- 16.8 s and 24.8 +/- 12.9 s, respectively) but similar TTI value. MVC torque, maximal voluntary activation level (VAL), M-wave characteristics and potentiated doublet amplitude were assessed before and immediately a…
Postactivation potentiation in human knee extensors during dynamic passive movements.
2008
Purpose: Postactivation potentiation (PAP), i.e., the increase in twitch torque following a maximal voluntary conditioning contraction, has been shown to depend on muscle contractile conditions (e.g., muscle length). Few studies, however, have investigated the extent of twitch PAP under dynamic conditions in human subjects. Therefore, the aim of the present experiment was to test the twitch PAP during passive dynamic movements following isometric conditioning contractions on nine healthy men. Methods: Maximal twitches were evoked on the knee extensor muscles before and exactly 5 s after a 3-s conditioning maximal voluntary isometric contraction. PAP was determined at a constant joint angle …
Plasma catecholamine responses and neural adaptation during short-term resistance training
2000
Low exercise-induced plasma adrenaline (A) responses have been reported in resistance-trained indi- viduals. In the study reported here, we investigated the interaction between strength gain and neural adaptation of the muscles, and the plasma A response in eight healthy men during a short-term resistance-training period. The subjects performed 5 resistance exercises (E1-E5), consisting of 6 sets of 12 bilateral leg exten- sions performed at a 50% load, and with 2 days rest in between. Average electromyographic (EMG) signal amplitude was recorded before and after the exercises, from the knee extensor muscles in isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) as well as during the exercises (a…
Exercise with TENS does not augment gains in balance and strength for dancers
2020
Abstract Electrical stimulation modulates sensory feedback and improves motor performance, at least for individuals with compromised sensorimotor function. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a 4-wk intervention with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at improving strength and balance in dancers. Nineteen dancers completed a timed, single-leg balance test, the Y-balance test, and contractions with the hip flexor and knee extensor muscles to assess maximal strength and force steadiness. They completed 4-wks of moderate-intensity bodyweight exercises (3x/wk) and were pseudo-randomized to either a Treatment or Sham group in a single-blind design. The…
Neuromuscular fatigue induced by an isotonic heavy-resistance loading protocol in knee extensors.
2009
Abstract The main aim of this study was to assess neuromuscular fatigue during a typical high-load, low-repetition loading protocol. Muscle stimulations were used to assess maximum voluntary contraction, resting single- and double-pulse twitch characteristics, and superimposed double-pulse twitch force (used to calculate voluntary activation) before and after an acute knee extension loading protocol. In our participants, who had previous resistance training experience, the mean voluntary activation level was 96.2% in an unfatigued state. Maximum voluntary contraction (−11.8%), resting double-pulse twitch force (−10.6%), and voluntary activation (−2.1%) were markedly decreased as a consequen…
Knee and ankle joint stiffness in sprint running.
2002
Stiffness has often been considered as a regulated property of the neuromuscular system. The purpose of this study was to examine the ankle and knee joint stiffness regulation during sprint running.Ten male sprinters ran at the constant relative speeds of 70, 80, 90, and 100% over a force platform, and ground reaction forces, kinematic, and EMG parameters were collected.The results indicated that with increasing running speed the average joint stiffness (change in joint moment divided by change in joint angle) was constant (7 N x m x deg(-1)) in the ankle joint and increased from 17 to 24 N x m x deg(-1) (P0.01) in the knee joint.The observed constant ankle joint stiffness may depend on (co…
Electromyographic and kinematic analysis of therapeutic knee exercises under water.
2001
Abstract Objective. This study aimed to evaluate muscle function and kinematics during commonly used knee rehabilitation exercises performed in water. Design. Maximal effort single extension and flexion trials in still water and repeated extension–flexion trials in flowing water in barefoot condition were analysed from 18 healthy participants (8 men, 10 women). Background. Despite the fact that water exercises are widely used, there are only few studies involving biomechanical and hydrodynamical analysis of aquatic exercises in rehabilitation. Methods. Electromyography of the quadriceps (vastus medialis, vastus lateralis) and hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus) and angular ve…