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J Appl Physiol (November 27, 2002). doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00173.2002
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Articles in PresS, published online ahead of print November 27, 2002
J Appl Physiol, 10.1152/jap.00173.2002
Submitted on March 4, 2002
Accepted on October 24, 2002

Myofascial force transmission: muscle relative position and length co-determine agonist and synergist muscle force

Peter A Huijing1* and Guus C Baan2

1 Instituut voor Fundamentele en Klinische Bewegingswetenschappen, Vrije Universiteit, Faculteit Bewegingswetenschappen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Integrated Biomedical Engineering for Restoration of Human Function, Instituut voor Biomedische Technologie, Universiteit Twente, Faculteit Construerende Technische Wetenschappen, Enschede, The Netherlands
2 Instituut voor Fundamentele en Klinische Bewegingswetenschappen, Vrije Universiteit, Faculteit Bewegingswetenschappen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: P_A_J_B_M_Huijing{at}fbw.vu.nl.

Equal proximal and distal lengthening of rat EDL were studied. TA , EHL, and EDL were active maximally. The connective tissues around these muscle bellies were left intact. Proximal EDL forces differed from distal forces, indicating myofascial force transmission to structures other than the tendons. Higher EDL distal force was exerted (ratio ~=118%) after distal than after equal proximal lengthening. For proximal force the reverse occurred (ratio ~=157%). Passive EDL force exerted at the lengthened end was 7-10x the force exerted at the non-lengthened end. While kept at constant length, synergists (TA+EHL: {Delta}Fma ~=-10%) decreased in force significantly by distal EDL lengthening, but not by proximal EDL lengthening. We conclude that force exerted at the tendon at the lengthened end of a muscle is higher due to the extra load imposed by myofascial force transmission on parts of the muscle belly. This is mediated by changes of the relative position of most parts of the lengthened muscle with respect to neighboring muscles and to compartment connective tissues. As a consequence, muscle relative position is a major co-determinant of muscle force for muscle with connectivity of its belly close to in vivo conditions.




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