Influence of knee joint angle on muscle properties of paralyzed and nonparalyzed human knee extensors
Karin H. Gerrits PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije University, van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorConstantinos N. Maganaris PhD
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorNeil D. Reeves PhD
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAnthony J. Sargeant PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije University, van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorDavid A. Jones PhD
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Arnold de Haan PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije University, van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije University, van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorKarin H. Gerrits PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije University, van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorConstantinos N. Maganaris PhD
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorNeil D. Reeves PhD
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAnthony J. Sargeant PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije University, van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
Search for more papers by this authorDavid A. Jones PhD
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Arnold de Haan PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije University, van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije University, van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorAbstract
Muscles of individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit an unexpected leftward shift in the force (torque)–frequency relationship. We investigated whether differences in torque–angle relationships between SCI and able-bodied control muscles could explain this shift. Electrically stimulated knee-extensor contractions were obtained at knee flexion angles of between 30° and 90°. Torque–frequency relationships were obtained at 30°, 90°, and optimum angle. Optimum angle was not different between groups but SCI-normalized torques were lower at the extreme angles. At all angles, SCI muscles produced higher relative torques at low stimulation frequencies. Thus, there was no evidence of a consistent change in the length of paralyzed SCI muscles, and the anomalous leftward shift in the torque–frequency relationship was not the result of testing the muscle at a relatively long length. The results provide valuable information about muscle changes occurring in various neurological disorders. Muscle Nerve, 2005
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