This study assessed the integrative neural and contractile determinants of human knee extension explosive force production. Forty untrained participants performed voluntary and involuntary (supramaximally evoked twitches and octets - eight pulses at 300 Hz that elicit the maximum possible rate of force development) explosive isometric contractions of the knee extensors. Explosive force (F0-150 ms) and sequential rate of force development (RFD, 50-ms epochs) were measured. Surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude was recorded (superficial quadriceps and hamstrings, 50-ms epochs) and normalized (quadriceps to Mmax, hamstrings to EMGmax). Maximum voluntary force (MVF) was also assessed. Multiple linear regressions assessed the significant neural and contractile determinants of absolute and relative (%MVF) explosive force and sequential RFD. Explosive force production exhibited substantial interindividual variability, particularly during the early phase of contraction [F50, 13-fold (absolute); 7.5-fold (relative)]. Multiple regression explained 59-93% (absolute) and 35-60% (relative) of the variance in explosive force production. The primary determinants of explosive force changed during the contraction (F0-50, quadriceps EMG and Twitch F; RFD50-100, Octet RFD0-50; F100-150, MVF). In conclusion, explosive force production was largely explained by predictor neural and contractile variables, but the specific determinants changed during the phase of contraction.

BackgroundA few small studies have reported on the mechanisms of ACL injury in professional male football.AimTo describe the mechanisms, situational patterns and biomechanics (kinematics) of ACL injuries in professional male football matches.MethodsWe identified 148 consecutive ACL injuries across 10 seasons of professional Italian football. 134 (90%) injury videos were analysed for mechanism and situational pattern, while biomechanical analysis was possible in 107 cases. Three independent reviewers evaluated each video. ACL injury epidemiology (month), timing within the match and pitch location at the time of injury were also reported.Results59 (44%) injuries were non-contact, 59 (44%) were indirect contact and 16 (12%) were direct contact. Players were frequently perturbed immediately prior to injury. We identified four main situational patterns for players who suffered a non-contact or an indirect contact injury: (1) pressing and tackling (n=55); (2) tackled (n=24); (3) regaining balance after kicking (n=19); and (4) landing from a jump (n=8). Knee valgus loading (n=83, 81%) was the dominant injury pattern across all four of these situational patterns (86%, 86%, 67% and 50%, respectively). 62% of the injuries occurred in the first half of the matches (p<0.01). Injuries peaked at the beginning of the season (September–October) and were also higher at the end of the season (March–May).Conclusions88% of ACL injuries occurred without direct knee contact, but indirect contact injuries were as frequent as non-contact injuries, underlying the importance of mechanical perturbation. The most common situational patterns were pressing, being tackled and kicking.

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Vertical jump height is thought to provide a valuable index of muscular power, which is an important factor in sports performance and for assessing the mobility and functional capacity of injured or aged individuals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the criterion validity of four popular devices for measuring vertical jump height. A belt mat, contact mat, portable force plate, and Vertec were compared to a criterion device, a laboratory force plate. Forty participants performed three maximal countermovement jumps on each device in a counterbalanced order, using block randomization. The criterion device presented the highest mean value (50.3 cm). The portable force plate and belt mat devices recorded similar jump height values to the criterion device (within 1 cm). The contact mat and Vertec devices recorded significantly lower values than the criterion device (P < 0.001). The mean difference ± limits of agreement were: belt mat -0.1 ± 5.5 cm, contact mat -11.7 ± 6.4 cm, portable force plate -0.8 ± 3.9 cm, and Vertec -2.4 ± 6.6 cm. In conclusion, the portable force plate and belt mat devices provided valid measures of vertical jump height, whereas the Vertec and contact mat devices did not.

The high intra-individual variability of EMG and early phase explosive voluntary force production may limit their use to measuring group as opposed to individual responses to an intervention.