Abstract
Several authors have suggested that work or power might be a better representation than peak torque as a measure of muscle function. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of peak torque to peak work and peak power of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles of normal subjects using an accomodating resistance isotonic device and to determine if peak torque alone provides sufficient information regarding muscle function. Forty-five subjects (27 females, 18 males) with a mean age of 23.5 years were tested on an Omnitron Total Power Unit at slow, medium, and fast speeds of contraction. All correlations between peak torque and peak work and between peak torque and peak power at all speeds of contraction were greater than .95. Peak torque appears to provide information equal to peak work or peak power regarding the ability of the muscle to emit force throughout the range of motion as assessed via accommodating isotonic contraction.