The objective of this study was to compare the maximal rate of force development (RFD) at maximal isometric and isokinetic concentric contractions at 60°.s-1 and 180°.s-1. Fourteen active males (age = 23.1 ± 2.8 years; height = 174 ± 31.3 cm and body mass = 81 ± 12 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. During the first visit, subjects performed a familiarization to the isokinetic equipment. During the second visit, subjects performed in random order 5 maximal isokinetic concentric contractions for knee extensors at each angular velocity (60 and 180°.s-1) to determine maximal concentric torque (MCT) and 2 maximal isometric contractions of 3 s to determine maximal isometric torque (MIT). The MIT (301.4 ± 56.0 N.m) was higher than MCT at 60°.s-1 (239.8 ± 42.2 N.m) and 180°.s-1 (175.0 ± 32.5 N.m). The MCT at 60°.s-1 was higher than MCT at 180°.s-1. At intervals of 0-30ms and 0-50ms, the RFD at isometric contraction (1196.6 ± 464.6 and 1326.5 ± 514.2 N.m.s-1, respectively) was similar to that obtained during concentric contraction at 60°.s-1 (1035.4 ± 446.2 N.m.s-1 and 1134.3 ± 448.4 N.m.s-1, respectively) and higher than that obtained during concentric contraction at 180°.s-1 (656.7 ± 246.6 N.m.s-1 and 475,2±197,9 N.m.s-1, respectively). For the interval of 0-100ms, RFD at isometric contraction (1248.7 ± 417.4 N.m.s-1) was higher than that obtained during concentric contractions at 180°.s-1 (909.2 ± 283.4 N.m.s-1), and similar to concentric contractions at 60°.s-1 (1005.4 ± 247.7 N.m.s-1). However, for the interval of 0-150ms, RFD at isometric contraction (1084.2 ± 332.1 N.m.s-1) was higher than at 60°.s-1 (834.8 ± 184.2 N.m.s-1) and 180°.s-1 (767.6 ± 767.6 N.m.s-1). It can be concluded that RFD is dependant on the contraction type and velocity, supporting the hypothesis that higher speed of contraction generates higher neural drive inhibition at the beginning of the movement.
concentric contraction; angular speed; isokinetics
