title: Theoretical determination of force-length relations of intact human skeletal muscles using the cross-bridge model.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine force-length relations of selected human skeletal muscles, based on the theoretical foundations of the cross-bridge model and to calculate a strength curve for knee extension from these relations. Force-length relations were determined for the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius and gastrocnemius muscles, using sarcomere/fiber length data form both legs of four cadavers and sarcomere geometry data reported in the literature. It appears that the two-joint muscles investigated in this study are not able to produce force throughout their full anatomical range of motion, whereas the one-joint muscles can. The strength curve for knee extension was determined as the sum of the force-length relations of the individual knee extensor muscles and showed good agreement with experimentally obtained knee extensor strength curves.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Faculty of Physical Education, Biomechanics, Canada.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Abrahamse
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: ter Keurs
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012518:Sarcomeres / Q000648:ultrastructure