The importance of muscle activation on the interpretation of muscle mechanical performance.

ABSTRACT: The work loop technique was developed to assess muscle performance during cyclical length changes with phasic activation, simulating the in vivo conditions of many muscles, particularly during locomotion. To estimate muscle function in vivo, the standard approach involves subjecting a muscle to length trajectories and activation timings derived from in vivo measurements, whilst simultaneously measuring force. However, the stimulation paradigm typically used, supramaximal, 'square-wave' stimulation, does not accurately reflect the graded intensity of activation observed in vivo. While the importance of the timing and duration of stimulation within the cycle on estimates of muscle performance has long been established, the importance of graded muscle activation has not been investigated. In

SUBMITTER: Kissane RWP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11574351 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature