Human medial gastrocnemius force-velocity behavior shifts with locomotion speed and gait.

ABSTRACT: Humans walk and run over a wide range of speeds with remarkable efficiency. For steady locomotion, moving at different speeds requires the muscle-tendon units of the leg to modulate the amount of mechanical power the limb absorbs and outputs in each step. How individual muscles adapt their behavior to modulate limb power output has been examined using computer simulation and animal models, but has not been studied in vivo in humans. In this study, we used a combination of ultrasound imaging and motion analysis to examine how medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle-tendon unit behavior is adjusted to meet the varying mechanical demands of different locomotor speeds during walking and running in humans. The results highlighted key differences in MG fascicle-shortening velocity with both locomotor s

SUBMITTER: Farris DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3271879 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature