title: Intraoperative measurement of force-length relationship of human forearm muscle.
abstract: The specific relationship between force and length is one of the most important characteristics of vertebrate muscle. The only accurate method to measure the force-length characteristics is to generate a set of isometric force-time plots at different muscle lengths. In humans, such force-length characteristics mostly are based on indirect measurements that have their limitations. A method of direct, in vivo measurement of force-length characteristics of the human flexor carpi ulnaris muscle using relatively simple equipment during transposition surgery is presented. The method is proven reproducible, with an overall estimated error of 2.8%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mark J C
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smeulders
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreulen
authors.forename: J Joris
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hage
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Huijing
authors.forename: Chantal M A M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van der Horst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results