Comparison of treadmill and cycle ergometer measurements of force-velocityrelationships and power output

Since body balance and weight-bearing factors present while running on the treadmill might cause additional muscle recruitment and thus could influenc e the force-velocity relationship and power. the present study was undertak en to find out whether the F-V and F-P relationships measured while running on the treadmill are different from the respective indices measured during cycling. On two separate occasions, 32 male subjects were tested using a s eries of 5 sec, all-out sprints against different braking forces on the Gym rol Sprint treadmill and an the Monark ergometer. The maximal peak power (P Pmax) and maximal mean power (MPmax) were measured. The equation: EP = 0.5 maximal force (Fo) x 0.5 maximal velocity (Vo) was used to calculate the es timated values of peak power (EPP) and mean power (EMP). The F-V relationsh ip was linear in both cycle ergometer and treadmill measurements. PPmax, MP max, EPP, and EMP values on the treadmill were lower than the respective va luer on the ergometer. EPP on the ergometer and on the treadmill, as well a s EMP values on the ergometer, were slightly higher than the corresponding measured values of PPmax and MPmax. The levels of braking force at which PP , MP, PPmax, and MPmax were obtained were lower on the ergometer than on th e treadmill. High correlation coefficients were found between PPmax, MPmax, EPP, and EMP measured on the ergometer and on the treadmill (r = 0.86, r = 0.84, r = 0.71, r = 0.78, respectively, P < 0.01), In both tests, signific ant relationships between PPmax, MPmax, EPP, and EMP were observed. it is c oncluded that independent of the type of ergometry the force-velocity relat ionship is similar in the measured range of velocities which suggests that the number of muscle groups and joints engaged in movement are more importa nt than body balance and weight-bearing factors present while running on tr eadmill.