Sprint cycling rate of torque development associates with strength measurement in trained cyclists

Abstract

Purpose A cyclist’s rate of force/torque development (RFD/RTD) and peak force/torque can be measured during single-joint or whole-body isometric tests, or during cycling. However, there is limited understanding of the relationship between these measures, and of the mechanisms that contribute to each measure. Therefore, we examined the: (i) relationship between quadriceps central and peripheral neuromuscular function with RFD/RTD in isometric knee extension, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and sprint cycling; and (ii) relationship among RFD/RTD and peak force/torque between protocols. Methods Eighteen trained cyclists completed two familiarisation and two experimental sessions. Each session involved an isometric knee extension, IMTP, and sprint cycling protocol, where peak force/torque, average and peak RFD/RTD, and early (0–100 ms) and late (0–200 ms) RFD/RTD were measured. Additionally, measures of quadriceps central and peripheral neuromuscular function were assessed during the knee extension. Results Strong relationships were observed between quadriceps early EMG activity (EMG50/M) and knee extension RTD (r or ρ = 0.51–0.65) and IMTP late RFD (r = 0.51), and between cycling early or late RTD and peak twitch torque (r or ρ = 0.70–0.75). Strong-to-very strong relationships were observed between knee extension, IMTP, and sprint cycling for peak force/torque, early and late RFD/RTD, and peak RFD/RTD (r or ρ = 0.59–0.80). Conclusion In trained cyclists, knee extension RTD or IMTP late RFD are related to measures of quadriceps central neuromuscular function, while cycling RTD is related to measures of quadriceps peripheral neuromuscular function. Further, the strong associations among force/torque measures between tasks indicate a level of transferability across tasks.

AI-Enhanced Prediction of Peak Rate of Torque Development from Accelerometer Signals

“…Although RTD is recognized as an important variable regarding neuromuscular function [1,2] and is highly associated with human performance [14][15][16]22], the need for specialized equipment and personnel remains a barrier to widespread adoption for field-based measures [2,31]. This limitation extends beyond sports and athletic contexts to clinical settings, where deep neuromuscular assessments could benefit populations such as seniors [40,41].…”

“…Consequently, a higher RTD indicates a faster and more efficient neuromuscular response, determined by motor unit activation rate (i.e., higher neural drive increases the explosive capacity) and muscle morphology (i.e., muscle thickness and muscle architecture) [1,[10][11][12]. RTD extends our capacity to evaluate the maximal force-generating capacity and plays a pivotal role in activities requiring quick muscle contractions and short-duration execution, such as jumping, sprinting, or weightlifting [13][14][15][16][17], as it reflects the muscles' capability to swiftly generate force during the very initial phase of muscle contraction [1,2]. Also, RTD is often associated with enhanced athletic performance, injury prevention, and return to sport readiness [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27].…”