Exercise tolerance during muscle contractions below and above the critical torque in different muscle groups.

The objective of this study was to test the hypotheses that end-test torque (ET) (expressed as % maximal voluntary contraction; MVC) is higher for plantar flexors (PF) than knee extensors (KE) muscles, whereas impulse above ET (IET) is higher for KE than PF. Thus, we expected that exercise tolerance would be longer for KE than PF only during the exercise performed above ET. After the determination of MVC, 40 men performed two 5-min all-out tests to determine ET and IET. Eleven participants performed a further 4 intermittent isometric tests, to exhaustion, at ET + 5% and ET - 5%, and 1 test for KE at the exercise intensity (%MVC) corresponding to ET + 5% of PF. The IET (7243.2 ± 1942.9 vs. 3357.4 ± 1132.3 N·m·s) and ET (84.4 ± 24.8 vs. 73.9 ± 19.5 N·m) were significantly lower in PF compared with KE. The exercise tolerance was significantly longer for PF (300.7 ± 156.7 s) than KE (156.7 ± 104.3 s) at similar %MVC (∼60%), and significantly shorter for PF (300.7 ± 156.7 s) than KE (697.0 ± 243.7 s) at ET + 5% condition. However, no significant difference was observed for ET - 5% condition (KE = 1030.2 ± 495.4 s vs. PF = 1028.3 ± 514.4 s). Thus, the limit of tolerance during submaximal isometric contractions is influenced by absolute MVC only during exercise performed above ET, which seems to be explained by differences on both ET (expressed as %MVC) and IET values.

Reliability of isometric and isokinetic peak torque of elbow flexors and elbow extensors muscles in trained swimmers / Reprodutibilidade do pico de torque isométrico e isocinético dos músculos flexores e extensores de cotovelo em nadadores treinados

Abstract In this study, it was hypothesized that the peak torque reliability would depend on the type of muscular action. The aim of this study was to analyze and to compare the reliability of isometric peak torque (IPT) and isokinetic peak torque at speeds of 60º.s-1 and 180º.s-1 (CPT60 and CPT180, respectively) of elbow flexors (EF) and elbow extensors (EE) muscles in trained swimmers. Twenty trained male swimmers (23 ± 5 years) performed the following protocols in different days: 1) Familiarization to isokinetic dynamometer; 2) Two maximal isometric voluntary contractions to determine IPT and five maximal concentric isokinetic contractions at 60º.s-1and 180º.s-1 to determine CPT60 and CPT180, respectively (T1). The tests for IPT, CPT60 and CPT180 determination were performed in random order, and; 3) The same tests were performed in the same order of those performed on the second day (T2). There was no significant difference of IPT, CPT60 and CPT180 values between T1 and T2. Higher intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and lower typical error (TE) of IPT (ICC - 0.87 - 0.92; TE - 6.9 - 10.9%) in relation to CPT60 (CCI - 0.66 - 0.79, TE - 12.0 - 12.8%) and CPT180 (ICC - 0.85 - 0.85; TE - 8.5 - 9.2%) was observed. Based on these results, it could be concluded that the peak torque of EF and EE muscles presents moderate to excellent reliability, and can be influenced by the type of muscular action performed by trained swimmers.

Resumo Neste estudo, hipotetizou-se que a reprodutibilidade do pico de torque poderia depender do tipo de ação muscular. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar e comparar a reprodutibilidade do pico de torque isométrico (PTI) e do pico de torque isocinético concêntrico nas velocidades de 60º.s-1 e 180º.s-1 (CPT60 e CPT180, respectivamente) dos músculos flexores (FC) e extensores do cotovelo (EC) em nadadores treinados. Vinte nadadores treinados do gênero masculino (23 ± 5 anos) realizaram os seguintes protocolos, em diferentes dias: 1) Familiarização ao dinamômetro isocinético; 2) Duas contrações isométricas máximas para a determinação do PTI e cinco contrações isocinéticas máximas concêntricas a 60º.s-1 e 180º.s-1 para a determinação do CPT60 e CPT180, respectivamente (T1). Os testes para a determinação do PTI, CPT60 e CPT180 foram realizados de forma aleatória e; 3) Foram realizados os mesmos testes e na mesma ordem dos realizados no segundo dia (T2). Não houve diferença significante dos valores de PTI, CPT60 e CPT180 entre T1 e T2. Foi observado maior coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI) e menor erro típico (ET) do PTI (CCI - 0,87 - 0,92; ET - 6,9 - 10,9%) em relação ao CPT60 (CCI - 0,66 - 0,79, ET - 12,0 - 12,8%) e CPT180 (CCI - 0,85- 0,85; ET - 8,5 - 9,2%). Com base nestes resultados, é possível concluir que o pico de torque dos músculos FC e EC apresenta reprodutibilidade entre moderada e excelente, podendo ser influenciada pelo tipo de ação muscular realizada em indivíduos treinados na natação.