Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 51, Issue 1 160-167, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Influence of joint position on ankle dorsiflexion in humans

E. Marsh, D. Sale, A. J. McComas and J. Quinlan

A method is described for investigating the contractile properties of the dorsiflexor muscles of the ankle. With the joint in the midposition the tibialis anterior was found to contribute less than half of the maximum voluntary torque, the remainder presumably being provided by the long extensors of the toes. The mean contraction and half-relaxation times of tibialis anterior muscles in healthy young men were 81.2 +/- 7.4 (SD) ms and 83.6 +/- 17.2 ms, respectively. When the tibialis anterior was stretched, the twitch became slower and more complete fusion of the contractions occurred during tetanic stimulation at low frequencies. Stimulation of tibialis anterior at 30 and 40 Hz disclosed that the optimum length of the muscle corresponded to about 10 degrees of plantarflexion. Maximum voluntary torque was also developed at 10 degrees of plantarflexion and decreased sharply as the ankle was dorsiflex beyond 5 degrees. The position assumed by the ankle joint at rest depended on whether the subject was sitting, standing, or lying, but was always greater, in the plantarflexed direction, than the "optimum" position for torque development. At low rates of stimulation the torque continued to increase throughout the full range of plantarflexion, probably because of the elasticity of the tendon. During maximum effort motoneuronal excitability did not appear to be influenced significantly by changes in joint angle.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. Taube, C. Leukel, M. Schubert, M. Gruber, T. Rantalainen, and A. Gollhofer Differential Modulation of Spinal and Corticospinal Excitability During Drop Jumps J Neurophysiol, March 1, 2008; 99(3): 1243 - 1252. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. J. McNeil, B. J. Murray, and C. L. Rice Differential changes in muscle oxygenation between voluntary and stimulated isometric fatigue of human dorsiflexors J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2006; 100(3): 890 - 895. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Pasquet, A. Carpentier, and J. Duchateau Change in Muscle Fascicle Length Influences the Recruitment and Discharge Rate of Motor Units During Isometric Contractions J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2005; 94(5): 3126 - 3133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. D. Reeves, C. N. Maganaris, G. Ferretti, and M. V. Narici Influence of 90-day simulated microgravity on human tendon mechanical properties and the effect of resistive countermeasures J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2005; 98(6): 2278 - 2286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. R. Lanza, D. W. Russ, and J. A. Kent-Braun Age-related enhancement of fatigue resistance is evident in men during both isometric and dynamic tasks J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2004; 97(3): 967 - 975. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. F. Ginz, F. Zorzato, P. A. Iaizzo, and A. Urwyler Effect of three anaesthetic techniques on isometric skeletal muscle strength Br. J. Anaesth., March 1, 2004; 92(3): 367 - 372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Babault, M. Pousson, A. Michaut, and J. Van Hoecke Effect of quadriceps femoris muscle length on neural activation during isometric and concentric contractions J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2003; 94(3): 983 - 990. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. M. Connelly, C. L. Rice, M. R. Roos, and A. A. Vandervoort Motor unit firing rates and contractile properties in tibialis anterior of young and old men J Appl Physiol, August 1, 1999; 87(2): 843 - 852. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. I. POLKEY, Y. LUO, R. GULERIA, C.-H. H. ÅRD, M. GREEN, and J. MOXHAM Functional Magnetic Stimulation of the Abdominal Muscles in Humans Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 1999; 160(2): 513 - 522. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. I. Polkey, C.-H. Hamnegard, P. D. Hughes, G. F. Rafferty, M. Green, and J. Moxham Influence of acute lung volume change on contractile properties of human diaphragm J Appl Physiol, October 1, 1998; 85(4): 1322 - 1328. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Hanchard, M Williamson, R W Caley, and R G Cooper Electrical stimulation of human tibialis anterior: (A) contractile properties are stable over a range of submaximal voltages; (B) high- and low-frequency fatigue are inducible and reliably assessable at submaximal voltages Clinical Rehabilitation, May 1, 1998; 12(5): 413 - 427. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. D. O'Leary, K. Hope, and D. G. Sale Posttetanic potentiation of human dorsiflexors J Appl Physiol, December 1, 1997; 83(6): 2131 - 2138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				These abstracts are from the proceedings of the Society of Research in Rehabilitation scientific meeting held in Nottingham, UK, summer 1994 Clinical Rehabilitation, May 1, 1995; 9(2): 173 - 181. [PDF]