Gender Differences in Force–Velocity Capabilities of High-Class Speed Skaters and Cyclists, as well as Physically Active People in Single-Joint and Multi-Joint Movements

The aim of the work was to determine gender differences in the force–velocity capabilities of athletes specializing in speed skating and BMX cycling, as well as physically active people who do not engage in regular physical activity. The objectives of the study included assessing the technical capabilities of an experimental sample of a contact LED track (CLT) designed for testing athletes by performing jump tests. The study involved athletes from the Russian national speed skating and BMX cycling teams, as well as physically active volunteers. Among the speed skaters, 4 were male and 8 were female. Cyclists were represented by 6 men and 7 women. There were two groups of volunteers: 10 male and 9 female. During the study, athletes and volunteers performed two types of test exercises: extension of the lower limb at the knee joint (single-joint movement) on an isokinetic dynamometer and jump tests (multi-joint movement). In addition to force–velocity capabilities, electromyographic activity of mm. vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, rectus femoris was recorded. The maximum voluntary force during the performance of multi-joint movements was determined in a series of jump tests: squat jump; countermovement jump; countermovement jump with arm swing. The results of the study made it possible to evaluate gender differences in the performance of single- and multi-joint movements in tests aimed at assessing the force–velocity capabilities of the muscles of the lower extremities in representatives of speed skating and cycling, as well as people who do not engage in regular physical activity. It has been shown that the maximum jump height in a group of athletes depends much more on the individual athlete’s level of training than on gender. In terms of gender, no significant difference in maximum jump height was observed between male and female athletes, as was the case in the volunteer group. We associate the differences identified between representatives of different sports with the characteristics of training and competitive loads, and the characteristics of the technique of performing competitive exercises. The use of the proposed methodology with the use of CLT and an isokinetic dynamometer in testing in the practice of the training process can reveal the “strong” and “weak” sides of athletes in terms of assessing the functional state of the musculoskeletal system of the lower extremities and make the necessary adjustments to training exercises.