Experiments are described which establish quantitative relations between muscular force, contraction velocity, and the electrical activity of the muscle (as measured by the surface EMG) under conditions of steady motion. The six subjects who participated in these experiments were all athletes. Test results confirm that human skeletal muscle in vivo behaves differently when it is contracting under load than when it is extending under load. At maximum voluntary effort the force-velocity relation is similar to that found for excised, tetanized muscle (Hill’s equation). Antagonist activity was found to be low under all conditions of load and velocity. Simple equations are proposed to describe the observed force-velocity-activation relations. The parameters of these equations, which represent the apparent internal friction properties of the muscles, are evaluated and reported.
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March 1976
Research Papers
Partially Activated Human Skeletal Muscle: An Experimental Investigation of Force, Velocity, and EMG
G. I. Zahalak,
G. I. Zahalak
Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
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J. Duffy,
J. Duffy
Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
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P. A. Stewart,
P. A. Stewart
Division of Biological and Medical Sciences, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
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H. M. Litchman,
H. M. Litchman
Division of Biological and Medical Sciences, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
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R. H. Hawley,
R. H. Hawley
Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
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P. R. Paslay
P. R. Paslay
School of Engineering, Oakland University, Rochester, Mich.
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G. I. Zahalak
Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
J. Duffy
Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
P. A. Stewart
Division of Biological and Medical Sciences, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
H. M. Litchman
Division of Biological and Medical Sciences, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
R. H. Hawley
Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
P. R. Paslay
School of Engineering, Oakland University, Rochester, Mich.
J. Appl. Mech. Mar 1976, 43(1): 81-86 (6 pages)
Published Online: March 1, 1976
Article history
Received:
March 1, 1975
Revised:
June 1, 1975
Online:
July 12, 2010
Citation
Zahalak, G. I., Duffy, J., Stewart, P. A., Litchman, H. M., Hawley, R. H., and Paslay, P. R. (March 1, 1976). "Partially Activated Human Skeletal Muscle: An Experimental Investigation of Force, Velocity, and EMG." ASME. J. Appl. Mech. March 1976; 43(1): 81–86. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3423800
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