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Biomechanic of Muscle
Biomechanic of Muscle
• Force-Velocity Relationship
• Length-Tension Relationship
• Electromechanical Delay
• Stretch-Shortening Cycle
Force-Velocity Relationship
• Maximal force developed by muscle governed
by velocity of muscle’s shortening or
lengthening.
• Holds true for all muscle types
• Does not imply:
– It’s impossible to move heavy resistance at
a fast speed.
– It’s impossible to move light loads at low
speeds
Force-Velocity Relationship
• Maximum isometric tension
– Eccentric conditions
• Volitionally
– Represents contribution of the elastic
components of muscle
• Eccentric Strength Training
– More effective than concentric training in
increasing muscle size and strength.
Length-Tension Relationship
• In human body, force generation increases
when muscle is slightly stretched.
– Parallel fibers at max just over resting
length
– Pennate fibers at max with 120%-130%
resting length.
• Due to contribution of elastic components of
muscle (primarily the SEC)
Electromechanical Delay
• Electromechanical Delay (EMD)
• Varies among human muscles (20-100 msec)
• Short EMDs produced by muscles with high
percentage of FT fibers
– Associated with development of higher
contraction forces
• Not effected by muscle length, contraction
type, contraction velocity, or fatigue
Stretch-Shortening Cycle
• Stretch-Shortening Cycle (SSC)
– Elastic Recoil
– Stretch Reflex Activation
• Muscle can perform more work with active
stretch prior to shortening contraction
• Less metabolic costs when SSC utilized.
• Eccentric training increases ability of
musculotendinous unit to store and produce
more elastic energy.
Muscular Strength, Power,
and Endurance
• Muscular Strength
• Muscular Power
• Muscular Endurance
• Muscular Fatigue
• Effect of Muscle Temperature
Muscular Strength
• The ability of a given muscle group to generate
torque at a particular joint.
• Two orthogonal components:
– 1) Rotary Component
– 2) Parallel to bone
• Derived from:
– amount of tension the muscles can generate
– moment arms of contributing muscles with
respect to joint center.
Muscular Strength
• Tension-generating capability of a muscle
affected by:
– Cross-sectional area
– Training state
• Moment arm of a muscle affected by:
– Distance between the muscle’s anatomical
attachment to bone and the axis of rotation
at the joint center
– Angle of muscle’s attachment to bone.
Muscular Power
• The product of muscular force and the
velocity of muscular shortening.
• The rate of torque production at a joint
• Max. power occurs at:
– approx. 1/3 max. velocity, and
– approx. 1/3 max concentric force
• Affected by muscular strength and movement
speed
Muscular Endurance
• The ability to exert tension over a period of
time.
– Constant: gymnast in iron cross
– Vary: rowing, running, cycling
• Length of time dramatically effected by force
and speed requirements of activity.
• Training involves many repetitions with light
resistance.
Muscular Fatigue
• Opposite of endurance
• Characteristics:
– Reduction in force production
– Reduction in shortening velocity
– Prolonged relaxation of motor units between
recruitment
• Absolute Fatigue
• Resistance:
– SO > FOG > FG
• Causes
Effect of Muscle Temperature
• Increased body temperature, increases
speed of nerve and muscle function
• Fewer motor units needed to sustain given
load
• Metabolic processes quicken
• Benefits of increased muscular strength,
power and endurance
• Key point: Be sure to warm-up!
Common Muscle Injuries
• Strains
– Mild, moderate or severe
• Contusions
– Myositis ossificans
• Cramps
• Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
• Compartment Syndrome
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Summary
• Muscle is the only biological tissue capable of
developing tension.
• Resulting actions can be concentric,
eccentric, isometric for muscle shortening,
lengthening or remaining unchanged in length
• Force production the the combination of many
relationships (ex: force-velocity)
• Specific activity performance is related power,
endurance, and strength
The End