Research article summary (published 30 Mar 1995):

The control of mono-articular muscles in multijoint leg extensions in man.

Full Abstract

1. Movements often require control of direction and a magnitude of force exerted externally on the environment. Bi-articular upper leg muscles appear to play a unique role in the regulation of the net torques about the hip and knee joints, necessary for the control of this external force. 2. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the mono-articular muscles act as work generators in powerful dynamic leg extensions, which means that they should be activated primarily in the phases during which they can contribute to work, irrespective of the net joint torques required to control the external force. 3. Cycling movements of six trained subjects were analysed by means of inverse dynamics, yielding net joint torques as well as activity patterns and shortening velocities of four mono- and four bi-articular leg muscles. 4. The results show that the mono-articular muscles exert force only in the phase in which these muscles shorten, whereas this appears not to be the case for the bi-articular muscles. 5. Reciprocal patterns of activation of the rectus femoris and hamstring muscles appear to tune the distribution of net joint torques about the hip and knee joints, necessary to control the (changing) direction of the force on the pedal. 6. An analysis of running in man and additional related literature based on animal studies appears to provide further support for the hypothesis that mono- and bi-articular muscles have essentially different roles in these powerful multijoint leg extension tasks.

Author information

Author/s: van Ingen Schenau, G J (GJ); Dorssers, W M (WM); Welter, T G (TG); Beelen, A (A); de Groot, G (G); Jacobs, R (R);

Affiliation: Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of physiology (J Physiol), published in ENGLAND. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1995-Apr; vol 484 ( Pt 1) (issue ) : pp 247-54

Dates: Created 1995/08/10; Completed 1995/08/10; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 7602524, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Bicycling - physiology Biomechanics Electromyography Hip Joint - physiology Humans Knee Joint - physiology

Knee Joint - physiology Leg - physiology Movement - physiology Muscle Contraction - physiology Muscle, Skeletal - physiology Muscles - physiology

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