The Force-Velocity Relationship: Assessment and Adaptations provoked by Exercise, Disuse and Disease

The slower a skeletal muscle shortens, the greater the force it can generate during contraction and vice versa. The literature shows that the force-velocity (F-V) relationship has important implications for different aspects of muscle and exercise physiology, such as muscle efficiency and fatigability, the assessment of adaptations provoked by exercise training, as well as the understanding of the pathophysiology of several myopathies or the mechanisms of muscle contraction per se. Also, it may be of relevance for other fields of research, such as robotics or the development of protheses featuring natural muscle-like properties. In addition, the F-V relationship is frequently measured as indicator of physical performance in sports and functional health in the general population.

Despite the widespread interest in the F-V relationship (or its proxies, such as the load-velocity and torque-velocity relationships), there are still some unresolved questions regarding its assessment and interpretation. For example, there are no specific guidelines on how the F-V relationship should be objectively measured. Also, it is poorly understood how the F-V relationship can be specifically modulated by exercise training in different populations, and changes occurring during growth, aging and disease have not been investigated yet. The main goal of this Research Topic is to encourage and collect studies addressing: the optimization of the assessment and analysis of the F-V relationship; the effects of exercise, disuse and disease on the F-V relationship; and the significance of the F-V relationship for physical performance in sports, activities of daily living and health.

Subjects of interest to this Research Topic include:
- Novel procedures to objectively assess and analyze the F-V relationship.
- Women and the F-V relationship.
- The F-V relationship during growth and aging.
- The F-V relationship in clinical populations.
- Changes of the F-V relationship in response to increase use (e.g. exercise) and disuse (e.g. immobilization).
- Significance of the F-V relationship for physical performance in sports.
- Significance of the F-V relationship for physical performance in activities of daily living.
- Significance of the F-V relationship for general health.
- Technological advances and applications in which the F-V relationship plays an important role.
This Research Topic is open to either original studies or systematic reviews, in vitro or in vivo studies, animal or human studies, healthy or clinical populations including participants of any sex and age. Studies assessing the load-velocity or torque-velocity relationships are also welcome.