東京大学教養学部体育学紀要 (1"4)お , 7〜 14

Torque-velocity Patterns of Hip,
Knee and Ankle Flexors and Extensors
during Concentric and Eccentric Actions
Kazuo Funato
Dept. of Sports Scienc€s, C-ollege of Arts aDd Sciences,

Tlie Uoiversiry of Tolryo

Abstract

The torque-velocity relations in the ecc€ntric and coDcenfic actions of exteosors andflexors arouDd hip, kDee, and ankle joints were examined iD 13 untrained males (21-46
years) using hredan's LIDO isokinetic dynamomerer. The peak rorques develop€d duriog
ecc€ntric actions (ECC) sbo$ed large value in comparison with maximal static torques (po):knee extensors (lM-112% of Po) ; knee flexors (101-105 % of po) ; dorsiflexors (lt$-12$q"
of Po) ; plantarflexo$ (102-l12Ea of Po); bip exrensors (t00.ll87o of po) ; and hip flexors(108-113% of Po). In all muscle groups, torques developed in ECC did nol significanrly
change with iDcreasing velocity, altbough the maximal ECC was sigoificantly greater (p<.05)

than the staric torque. The static rorque was signiticantly grealer (p<.05) rhan theconc€otric torque which decreased with increasiDg velocity. The large difference between
the iD vivo eccenhic torque-velocity protiles obtained in this experhrent aod those relrcrted
for musclc isolated from animals could be due to the presence of neural inhibitory
mechanism (Wickiewicz er al, 198J and Westing er al, 1990).

lntroduction
Torque-velocity curves in muscle contraction
have been studied extensively for intact humanlower body muscle, though few studies havedescribed eccentric muscle action. Isolated

skeletal muscle preparations from animals
have consistently shown to produce eccentric

force larger than isometric force, sometimes
twice as large, with increasing lengthening
velocity(3,9). On the other hand, voluntary
contractions of human skeletal muscles
eccentric torque remaining constant(l,4,6,7,13,
14,15,16), increasing(1,8), decreasing(1,2), or

increasing initially and then decreasing(5,12)
with increasing lengthening velocity. Even
though these studies have been carried out for
only extensors and flexors of knee and elbow,
ihe results are not conclusive mentioned above.
The purpose of this investigation was toevaluate the joint kinetics of the hip, knee, andankle in both isokinetic lengthening andshortening muscle actions. Examining theeccentric torque-velocity patterns of theextensors and the flexors of these joints would
help to account for the discrepancy in eccentric

torque-velocity data currently presented. A
torque-velocity curve was first drawn for eachtorques at constant angular Yelocities. For themeasurements on the knee extension (KE) andflexion (KF), the subjects were seated on a

sturdy test chair provided- The angle between
the backrest and the base was 105 deg, while
ttre base was 10 deg up in its front from thehorizonatal line. The subjects were stabilized
by a seat belt placed around their waist, and an
adjustable thiSh pad held ttreir thigh on thechair base. They maintained their backs
against the seat and used hand grips on eachside of the base to further stabilize the upper

body position. Lateral femoral condyle wasaligned with the LIDO lever arm's axis ofrotation. A cuff was attached just proximal tothe maleolus for recording torque. Shoes were
optional for the subjects.

For dorsiflexion (DF) and plantarflexion(PF), the subjects kneeled on the test chair with

their addomen pressed against the backrest.
The angle between the seatback and the basewas 105 deg. A strap was placed around theseatback and across the hamstrings, andanother belt was placed over the calves tosecure the lower leg. The subjects grasped theback of the chair for further support. LIDO wasconnected to the foot by aligning the lateral

joint. Then the data were discussed with special

maleolus with the lever arm's axis of rotationreference to the discrepancy between the
results by Cybexll(10,17) and those by SPARK

and securing the bottom of the foot to a platewith two straps-one across the metatarsals andSystem(13,14,15).

the other wound around the calcaneous throughthe maleolae.
Methods
Subjects 13 males gave their written consent toparticipate (meantSD for age, body mass andheight : 26.5a8.2 years, ?5.0 t i1.3kg, 177.5+70.

Hip extension (HE) and flexion (HF)
measurements were made with the subjects laid

4cm,respectively). The subjects had noton their back. The axis of rotation of the
dynamometer was aligned with the greater
trochanter. I(nee angle was l(ept at 90 deg by

previously been trained on an isokinetic device.

placing a Bledsoe Sports Rehab Knee Brace(Medical Technology Co.) on the right leg. The

Experimental apparatus. The LIDO Active

Isokinetic Rehabilitaion System (Model #100303-01; Loredan Co., Ltd.) nas used tomeasure eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON)body position was adjusted on the table so thatthe right leg was fully extended over the end of

the table. The angle between the backrest andthe base rvas 175 deg, so that the hip angle was

Tor.lue-velrity pallertrs of hip. tne ard atrrle oerors ard.',ien$6 dunng.!trcentri. ard ecr:enlric aclions

elevated by 5 deg above the horizontal line.
Each subject was secured to the chair by a belt
wound around the waist and two belts crossing

maximum isometric torque was generated wasover the shoulders. A lower thigh cuff was
attacbed and connected to the LIDO lever arm
for recording of hip joint torque.

did not feel any uncomfortableness. The

Procedures. Torque-velocity patterns were
examined for the following joint movements:
KE, KF, DF, PF, HE, and HF of the right leg.

Testing for each joint was done on separate
days where tlere was no soreness in othermuscle groups caused by previous testings.
Torques in maximal voluntary ECC, static, andCON actions were measured at velocities of 0,30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 210, 240, 270 (for CON only),
300 (CON), 350 (CON), and 400 (CON) deels.

For each muscle group, static trials (eachlasting for 3s) were performed at four different
angles. The highest torque among those at theas follows. For each subject, the angle at which

first determined. The motion of each joint waslimited within the range over which the subjects
subjects then performed generated maximal
isokinetic contractions over the range aroundthis maximum torque-producting angle. This

technique was proposed originally by
Wickiewicz et al. (1984) since contractions over
too wide range require pro-longed efforts thatare "fatiguing" if held maximally throughout

the arc of motion (17). The order ofmeasurements was randomized for eachsubject. A minimum of three ECC and two CON

trials at each velocity were performed. One or
two additional trials were performed if torquecontinued to increase. The highest torquerecorded among a series of trials at a given
velocity was adopted.

four angles was regarded as the maximum
static torque (Po). The joint angles used were
within the following range: KE (60-90 deg), KF(10-40 deg), PF (130-100 dee), DF (180.i50 deg),
HE (110-80 deg), HF (10-40 deg), where 0 deg
n:eans full extension for hip and knee joint.
These angles were chosen on the basis of the
optimal angle for maximum force production

Statistics. Absolute torque at each velocity wasconvertd to a value relative to static torque(Po). Paired t-tests were done within eachmuscle Sroup to determine the significance ofdifference between torques developed at varied

velocities. An alpha level of p(0.05 was
required for statistical significance.

Table 1. Mean SD of isometric and eccentric torques (Nm) for extensors and flexors of hip, knee
and ankle joints.

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In HE and HF, ECC torque did not change

Results

with increasing velocity; 2. In KE, ECC torques
at 90, 180, and 210 deg/s were significantly
greater than that at 240 deg/s; 3. In KF, ECC

Peak ECC torques in KE, KF, PF' DF' HE,
and HF were significantly greater tian theirstatic torques.
Table 1 shows the mean absolute torques of
all the muscle groups, with asterisks(') denoting

torque at 90 deg/s was significantly Sreater thanthat at 30 deg/s; 4. In DF, ECC torque at 30
deg/s was significantly greater than that at.

those significantly greater than the static
torques. Comparison between ECC torques
measured at different velocities for each joint
movements lead to the following results; 1.

240 deg,/s, 90 deg/s was significantlv greaterthan those at 60' 210' and 240 degls' that at 120
deg/s was significantly greater than those at 150

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ＰＩｍ ■ｙ０ ●︵Ｅ Ｚ ︶ ｏョげ﹄ｏい 一■ ●いHlp Extenslon P/Po (N=8)(deg/Sec)■ ●い ︒ｏ●︼日 Ｚ︶ ｏョＯＬｏい 一
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Velocityloo‐
100 ‐200 ‑100

VelocitY (deg/sec)
Fig.1 Joint torque-velocitv profiles in hip0

Veloc[1ソ

100

200

●00

(d39′ 3● C)

extension and flexion, knee extension and

Fig.2 Retative values (meantSD) in torque tomaximal static torque (Po) in relation to

flexion, planter flexion and dorsilexion

velocity in hip extension (upper) aud(meana SD).

flexion (lower).

Torque-velo.ity palt€rns of hip, Loee and ,trkle flexors and exlensols during cotr.enlric and ec(enrri( acrions

11

a\d, 240 deg/s and that at 180 degls was
significantly greater than that at 240 deg,ls, 5.
In PF, ECC torques at 60, 90, 120, and 150(p<0.01) than CON torques, with larger
differences seen as velocity increased. CON
torques were always significantty smaller thandeg/s were significantly greater than that at

the static torques in all six muscle groups, and30 deg/s.

decreased with increasing velocity.

In each muscle group, ECC torques were
within the following ranges (%Po): KE(108-112%), KF (101-105%), PF (102-112%), DF

Fig. 1 shows the torque'velocity curves for
the HE, HF, KE, KF, PF, and DF. These are
replotted on the torque axis normalize to Po in

Q09.120%), HE (100-118%), HF (108-113%),
ECC torques were always significantly greater

Fie.2-1. ln Fig. 5, data from all the muscle
groups x,ere averaged.

The inaccordance of subject number between
Klle●

Extension P′ Po (N=10)
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P′ Po {N=8)Ｏ Ｌ ヽαＯ α ヽこ

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14

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300 ‐200 ‐1000Velocity

100

200

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400

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Fig.3 Relative values (meant SD) in torque tomaximal static torque (Po) in relation tovelocity in knee extension (upper) andflexion (lower).

100 200 300 400
V.loclly (d.g/r.c)Fig.4 Relative values (mean+SD) in torque tomaximal static torque (Po) in relation tovelocity in plantarflexion (upper) and-3oo -2oo -1oo odorsiflexion (lower).

t2

P/PO FOn THE HlP, KNEE, & ANKLE JOINTS {N=53)

However, the results differ {rom earlier studies
on elbow flexors(8) and female knee extensors
and flexors(l), which showed that eccentric

torque increased with velocity. In addition,
several studies reported no significant
differences between static and eccentric

IIIiIIIItorques(4,13,15).

Studies on female elbow flexors (Griffin etal., 1987) and female knee extensors (Rizzardo-300 .2oo -1oo 0

100 2oo 300 400

v.losrl, {d.Cr..c)

Fig.S Relative values (meanl SD) in torque tomaximal static torque (Po) in relation toet al., 1988) agree rryith our data. These studies
reported an initial insignificant increase ineccentric torque up to 120 deg/s, followed by asignificant decrease at 210 and 180 deg/s
respectively(5,10). Alttrough Griffin et al. only
measurd torques at three velocities (30, 120,
and 180 deg/s) and Rizzardo et al. reported data

velocity. Each mean and SD wereaveraged from the data obtained in hip

at 60, 120, and 180 deg/s, the tendency ofshowing significant decreases at the highest

extension and flexion, knee extension andvelocity is consistent with our results for KE

flexion, planterflexion and dorsiflexion.

and DF.

LiDO's upper limit torque setting: for the safety

Previous researches conceming eccentric
torques of both ttre knee and elbow extensors
and flexors has shown inconsistencies between
those of flexors and extensors, In thisof the testing, the movement of lever arm of theexperiment, the eccentric data of extensors and

LIDO was automatically set to stop when thetorque exceeds ovel100 Nm for HE, HF, KE
and KF, and over 300 Nm for PF and DF.

flexors of the hip, knee, and ankle areconsistent to each other, in that the eccentriceach diagram is due to misrecordings in somesubjects producing torques tiat exceeded tle

Discussion

torques were greater than the static torques,
and the eccentric torque did not increase withvelocity.

The results of this study revealed tiat thetorque"velocity patterns are similar for theWesting et al. (1990) reported that directelectrical stimulations given additionally to theextensors and the flexors in each hip, knee, and 'maximal voluntary contractions evoked
consistently eccentric forces greater thanisometric forces. This suggests that theelectrical stimulation overrides the neuralankle joint. The peak eccentric torque of eachmuscle group was significantly greater than thestatic torque, but no pattern where eccentric
torque increased with velocity was obseryd.

inhibition(15). Therefore, skeletal muscle has

The results generally agree \vith previous

the ability of attaining supra-isometricstudies with male and female subjects, in whichknee and elbow extensors and flexors

eccentric torques, but is limited by a neural
inhibition as suggested by Perrine et al (1978).

generated eccentric torque greater than static

Strong motivation may be one voluntary

torque(1,5,7,8), and eccentric torque did notmechanism for overriding this neural inhibition.

increase with velocity(1,4,6,7,13,14,15,16).

For example, the subiect's motivation may

Torque-vel$ity patlems of hip' knee and aDkle flexorc and enemom during conccntric atrd e@errric a.rions

influence the setting of the alpha motonueron's

location, and function.

sensitivity to feedback from muscle spindles
and golgi tendon organs. The central nervous

Iengthening contractions and on the other lower

system may increase the motonueron's
sensitivity to the Ia code while decreasing
sensitivity to the Ib code. Even though it could
not be measured, we feel subject's motivation
played a role in eccentric torque output.

More researches are needed on PF
limb muscles.
References

1. Colliander EB, Tesch PA (1989) Bilateraleccentric and concentric torque of quadriceps

However, such a psychological effect would be

and hamstrings muscles in females and males.

so small that the voluntary eccentric torques in

Eur J Appl Physiol 59:227-232

this experiment did not increase with velocity
as Westing et al (1990) reported.
In comparing eccentric torques developed byeach muscle group, that by PF group exhibited

2. Colliander EB, Tesch PA (1990) Effects ofeccentric and concentric muscle actions iD
resistance training. Acta Physiol Scand 140:
31.39

a specific pattern. The eccentric torques atvelocities from 60 to 150 deg/s are all

3. &lman KAP, Elizinga c,Noble MIM (1978)
Enhancement of mechanical performance bysignificantly higher than that at 30 dee/s. This

stretch during tetanic coltractions of vertebrate

may implies that the PF is able to increase
eccentric torque as the lengthening velocity
increases. Although a paired t-test does notsupport this, the mean values in Fig. 4 appear toskeletal fibers. J Physiol 1281:139-155

show this tendency.

in muscles acting against gravity, such as thePF, it would be important to produce increasing
eccentric torques as lengthening velocity
increases. This would be reflected in the
profiles of eccentric force shown in PF group.
In landing movements, the PF are the firstmuscles to encounter ground reaction forces
after a flight phase and subjected to various
Iengthening velocities. Therefore, the PF plays

an important role in absorbing energy during
the landing, so as to the landing is smooth. Thisis accomplished by producing large eccentric
torque that is a function of velocity. As stated
before, this experiment did not show that, in
PF, eccentric torque significantly changes withincreases in lengthening velocity. However, thesubtle tendency of the data has lead to thisspeculation and its supporting arguments.

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concentric and eccentric contractions.
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6. Hanten W, Ramberg C (1988) Effect ofstabilizatio! on maximal isokinetic torque ofthe quadriceps femoris muscle duringconcentric and eccentric contractions. Pbvs

'lher 68:219-222

7. Jorgensen K (1976) Force.velocity relationshipin humao elbow flexors and extensors.
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8. Komi PV (1973) Measurement of theforce-velocityrelationship io human muscle
under concentric and eccentric contractions.
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9. Levin A, Wyman J (1927) The viscous elastic
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10Lzl8-243

Perhaps the in vivo eccentric torque-velocity

10. Perrine JJ, Edgerton VR (1978) Muscle

pattern of PF is unique among other muscle
group, due to its particular architecture,force-velocity and power velocity relationships
under isokinetic loading. Med Sci Sports 10:

14

t59-r66

ll. Rizzardo MR. Wessel J, Bav G (1988) Eccentricand concentric torque and power of the knee
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characteristics of the quadriceps femoris in
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10:U5-180
15. Westing SH, Seger JY, Thorstersson A (1990)

EfIect of electrical stimulation on eccentric andconcentric torque-velocity relationships during
knee extension in man. Acta Physiol Scand 140:
t7 -22

16. Westing SH, Cresswell AG, Thorstensson A(1990) Muscle activation during maximal

voluntary eccentlic and concentric knee
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Edgerton VR (1981) Muscle architecture andforce-velocity relationships in humans. J Appl
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VR (1983) Muscle architecture of the humanlower limb. Clinical Onhopaedics Rerated Res
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