Relationships between Individual Differences in Strength, Speed, and Mass in an Arm Movement

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Abstract
According to physics, the equation F = 2 md/t 2 determines the force F required to move a mass m through a distance d in t seconds. Two experiments were performed on college men (n = 35 and 30) in which a lateral arm movement of approximately 90 deg. involving about 4 ft. of hand travel, was made at maximum speed. The movement time t, the effective arm mass m, and the static dynamometer strength s of the muscles were measured for each subject. The reliability of individual differences in all measures was above .96. There was no significant correlation between static strength and “strength in action” computed from arm mass and speed of movement. The results agree with the concept that strength as ordinarily measured is determined by a neuromotor coordination pattern rather than the ultimate physiological capacity of the muscle. The neuromotor pattern energizing the muscle is different during movement. Absence of correlation is another example of the high specificity of neuromotor coordination skills. Reaction times were also measured and found to be uncorrelated with speed of movement.

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