A two-point method based on sufficiently distinct loads (100% and 240–300% body weight) can provide an accurate estimate of the force-velocity relationship in horizontal leg press and may be a practical alternative to comprehensive multi-load testing.
Key Findings
Results
Four two-point loading combinations using widely separated loads showed nearly perfect concurrent validity with the multiple-point method for assessing the force-velocity relationship.
The four combinations were: 100% & 240% BW, 100% & 260% BW, 100% & 280% BW, and 100% & 300% BW.
Correlations between these two-point methods and the multiple-point method ranged from r = 0.906 to 0.993.
The authors described these correlations as 'nearly perfectly correlated.'
Sample: 16 men (mean age 20.0 ± 1.4 years, body mass 69.2 ± 7.6 kg).
Results
Concurrent validity of two-point force-velocity relationship parameters decreased as the difference between the two loads became smaller.
Two-point methods with closer loads (e.g., 100% and 120% BW) showed lower concurrent validity compared to those with larger load differences (e.g., 100% and 240% BW).
Ten two-point methods were tested in total, each pairing 100% BW with one of the additional loads from 120% to 300% BW in 20% increments.
The trend was consistent across force-velocity relationship parameters derived from each pairing.
Methods
The multiple-point force-velocity method used eleven external loads ranging from 100% to 300% of body weight in 20% increments.
Participants performed maximal-effort horizontal dynamic leg press actions against all eleven loads.
The device used was a horizontal leg press equipped with pneumatic artificial muscles (ddrobotec®, Switzerland).
The multiple-point method served as the reference criterion for concurrent validity comparisons.
Methods
The study population consisted of 16 young men with mean age 20.0 ± 1.4 years, height 172.4 ± 6.3 cm, and body mass 69.2 ± 7.6 kg.
All participants performed maximal-effort leg press actions.
External loads were expressed as percentages of body weight (100%–300% BW).
The study used a within-subject design comparing two-point and multiple-point methods in the same participants.
Conclusions
A two-point force-velocity assessment method using sufficiently distinct loads is a practical alternative to comprehensive multi-load testing on a horizontal leg press with pneumatic artificial muscles.
The finding supports using as few as two loads to accurately characterize the force-velocity profile when load separation is large enough.
This has implications for reducing testing burden in applied settings where time and equipment may be limited.
The authors note that 'a two-point method based on sufficiently distinct loads can provide an accurate estimate of the F-V relationship.'
What This Means
This research suggests that you don't need to test someone at many different resistance levels to accurately map out their force-velocity profile — a measure of how their muscle power changes across different speeds and loads. Using a horizontal leg press machine with pneumatic (air-powered) resistance, 16 young men were tested at 11 different load levels ranging from 100% to 300% of their body weight. The researchers then compared simplified two-load testing combinations against the full 11-load assessment to see which two-load pairs gave the most accurate results.
The key finding was that two-point combinations using loads that were far apart — specifically pairing 100% body weight with 240%, 260%, 280%, or 300% body weight — produced force-velocity profiles that closely matched those from the full multi-load testing (correlations of r = 0.906 to 0.993). In contrast, using two loads that were close together (such as 100% and 120% body weight) gave much less accurate estimates. This suggests that the spread between the two chosen loads is critical for accuracy.
This research matters because force-velocity profiling is used to tailor strength and power training programs to individual athletes or patients, and comprehensive multi-load testing can be time-consuming. If just two well-chosen loads can give equally reliable results, this could make force-velocity assessment faster and more accessible in sports and rehabilitation settings. However, these findings were specific to a horizontal leg press with pneumatic resistance, so further research would be needed to confirm whether the same principles apply to other exercises or equipment types.
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Nishioka T, Yamaguchi S, Yoshikawa A, Ikeda N, Hajima D, Yabuno N, et al.. (2026). Optimal two-point loading strategy for accurate leg press force-velocity assessment.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0356566