scholarly journals Active Muscle Work, Not Springs, Determine Maximal Effort Hopping Performance in Humans

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey McBride
2021 ◽  
pp. 766-777
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. McBride

The current investigation examined muscle-tendon unit kinematics and kinetics in human participants asked to perform a hopping task for maximal performance with variational preceding milieu. Twenty-four participants were allocated post-data collection into those participants with an average hop height of higher (HH) or lower (LH) than 0.1 m. Participants were placed on a customized sled at a 20º angle while standing on a force plate. Participants used their dominant ankle for all testing and their knee was immobilized and thus all movement involved only the ankle joint and corresponding propulsive unit (triceps surae muscle complex). Participants were asked to perform a maximal effort during a single dynamic countermovement hop (CMH) and drop hops from 10 cm (DH10) and 50 cm (DH50). Three-dimensional motion analysis was performed by utilizing an infrared camera VICON motion analysis system and a corresponding force plate. An ultrasound probe was placed on the triceps surae muscle complex for muscle fascicle imaging. HH hopped significantly higher in all hopping tasks in comparison to LH. In addition, the HH group concentric ankle work was significantly higher in comparison to LH during all of the hopping tasks. Active muscle work was significantly higher in HH in comparison to LH as well. Tendon work was not significantly different between HH and LH. Active muscle work was significantly correlated with hopping height (r = 0.97) across both groups and hopping tasks and contributed more than 50% of the total work. The data indicates that humans primarily use a motor-driven system and thus it is concluded that muscle actuators and not springs maximize performance in hopping locomotor tasks in humans.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Riddick ◽  
A. D. Kuo

AbstractThe metabolic cost of human running is not well explained, in part because the amount of work performed actively by muscles is largely unknown. Series elastic tissues such as tendon can save energy by performing work passively, but there are few direct measurements of the active versus passive contributions to work in running. There are, however, indirect biomechanical measures that can help estimate the relative contributions to overall metabolic cost. We developed a simple cost estimate for muscle work in humans running (N = 8) at moderate speeds (2.2–4.6 m/s) based on measured joint mechanics and passive dissipation from soft tissue deformations. We found that even if 50% of the work observed at the lower extremity joints is performed passively, active muscle work still accounts for 76% of the net energetic cost. Up to 24% of this cost compensates for the energy lost in soft tissue deformations. The estimated cost of active work may be adjusted based on assumptions of multi-articular energy transfer, elasticity, and muscle efficiency, but even conservative assumptions yield active work costs of at least 60%. Passive elasticity can reduce the active work of running, but muscle work still explains most of the overall energetic cost.


2011 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 873-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse C. Dean ◽  
Arthur D. Kuo

Muscles expend energy to perform active work during locomotion, but they may also expend significant energy to produce force, for example when tendons perform much of the work passively. The relative contributions of work and force to overall energy expenditure are unknown. We therefore measured the mechanics and energetics of a cyclical bouncing task, designed to control for work and force. We hypothesized that near bouncing resonance, little work would be performed actively by muscle, but the cyclical production of force would cost substantial metabolic energy. Human subjects ( n = 9) bounced vertically about the ankles at inversely proportional frequencies (1–4 Hz) and amplitudes (15–4 mm), such that the overall rate of work performed on the body remained approximately constant (0.30 ± 0.06 W/kg), but the forces varied considerably. We used parameter identification to estimate series elasticity of the triceps surae tendon, as well as the work performed actively by muscle and passively by tendon. Net metabolic energy expenditure for bouncing at 1 Hz was 1.15 ± 0.31 W/kg, attributable mainly to active muscle work with an efficiency of 24 ± 3%. But at 3 Hz (near resonance), most of the work was performed passively, so that active muscle work could account for only 40% of the net metabolic rate of 0.76 ± 0.28 W/kg. Near resonance, a cost for cyclical force that increased with both amplitude and frequency of force accounted for at least as much of the total energy expenditure as a cost for work. Series elasticity reduces the need for active work, but energy must still be expended for force production.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Riddick ◽  
AD Kuo

AbstractThe metabolic cost of human running is challenging to explain, in part because direct measurements of muscles are limited in availability. Active muscle work costs substantial energy, but series elastic tissues such as tendon may also perform work while muscles contract isometrically at a lower cost. While it is unclear to what extent muscle vs. series elastic work occurs, there are indirect data that can help resolve their relative contributions to the cost of running. We therefore developed a simple cost estimate for muscle work in humans running (N = 8) at moderate speeds based on measured joint energetics. We found that even if 50% of the work observed at the joints is performed passively, active muscle work still accounts for 76% of the net energetic cost. Up to 24% of this cost due is required to compensate for dissipation from soft tissue deformations. The cost of active work may be further adjusted based on assumptions of multi-articular energy transfer and passive elasticity, but even the most conservative assumptions yield active work costs of at least 60%. Passive elasticity can greatly reduce the active work of running, but muscle work still explains most of the overall energetic cost.


2020 ◽  
pp. 34-36
Author(s):  
M. A. Pokhaznikova ◽  
E. A. Andreeva ◽  
O. Yu. Kuznetsova

The article discusses the experience of teaching and conducting spirometry of general practitioners as part of the RESPECT study (RESearch on the PrEvalence and the diagnosis of COPD and its Tobacco-related aetiology). A total of 33 trained in spirometry general practitioners performed a study of 3119 patients. Quality criteria met 84.1% of spirometric studies. The analysis of the most common mistakes made by doctors during the forced expiratory maneuver is included. The most frequent errors were expiration exhalation of less than 6s (54%), non-maximal effort throughout the test and lack of reproducibility (11.3%). Independent predictors of poor spirogram quality were male gender, obstruction (FEV1 /FVC<0.7), and the center where the study was performed. The number of good-quality spirograms ranged from 96.1% (95% CI 83.2–110.4) to 59.8% (95% CI 49.6–71.4) depending on the center. Subsequently, an analysis of the reasons behind the poor quality of research in individual centers was conducted and the identified shortcomings were eliminated. The poor quality of the spirograms was associated either with the errors of the doctors who undertook the study or with the technical malfunctions of the spirometer.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mercè Torra ◽  
Eduard Pujol ◽  
Anna Maiques ◽  
Salvador Quintana ◽  
Roser Garreta ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: The difference between isokinetic eccentric to concentric strength ratios at high and low velocities (DEC) is a powerful tool for identifying submaximal effort in other muscle groups but its efficiency in terms of the wrist extensors (WE) and flexors (WF) isokinetic effort has hitherto not been studied. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study is to examine the usefulness of the DEC for identifying suboptimal wrist extensor and flexor isokinetic efforts. METHODS: Twenty healthy male volunteers aged 20–40 years (28.5 ± 3.2) were recruited. Participants were instructed to exert maximal and feigned efforts, using a range of motion of 20∘ in concentric (C) and eccentric (E) WE and WF modes at two velocities: 10 and 40∘/s. E/C ratios (E/CR) where then calculated and finally DEC by subtracting low velocity E/CR from high velocity ones. RESULTS: Feigned maximal effort DEC values were significantly higher than their maximal effort counterparts, both for WF and WE. For both actions, a DEC cutoff level to detect submaximal effort could be defined. The sensitivity of the DEC was 71.43% and 62.5% for WE ad WF respectively. The specificity was 100% in both cases. CONCLUSION: The DEC may be a valuable parameter for detecting feigned maximal WF and WE isokinetic effort in healthy adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Ferreira ◽  
P Rio ◽  
A Castelo ◽  
I Cardoso ◽  
S Silva ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Although several cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters have already proved to predict prognosis, there is increasing interest in finding variables that do not require maximal effort. End-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PETCO2), an indirect indicator of cardiac output, is one of such variables. Studies in heart failure populations already suggest its role as a prognostic factor. However, data concerning other populations are still scarce. Purpose To assess the association between exercise PETCO2, cardiac biomarkers and systolic function following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to evaluate its potential prognostic role in this population. Methods A retrospective single-centre analysis was conducted including patients who underwent symptom-limited CPET early after AMI. We assessed PETCO2 at baseline (PETCO2-B), at anaerobic threshold (PETCO2-AT) and at peak exercise and calculated the difference between PETCO2-AT and PETCO2-B (PETCO2-difference). We analysed their association with B-natriuretic peptide (BNP), maximal troponin after AMI as well as with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 1 year after. Results We included 40 patients with a mean age of 56 years (87.5% male), assessed with CPET a median of 3 months after AMI (80% of which were ST-elevation myocardial infarctions). Average respiratory exchange ratio was 1,1 with 48% of patients not reaching maximal effort. Mean PETCO2-AT was 37mmHg, with a mean increase from baseline of 6mmHg (PETCO2-difference). There was a significant positive correlation between all the PETCO2 variables measured and BNP values at time of AMI and on follow-up (best correlation for PETCO2-AT with BNP at AMI hospitalization, r = 0.608, p &lt; 0.001). Maximal troponin was not correlated with PETCO2. Both PETCO2-AT and PETCO2-difference were significantly and positively correlated with LVEF 1-year post-AMI (r = 0.421, p = 0.040 and r = 0.511, p = 0.011, respectively). Conclusion PETCO2-AT and PETCO2-difference are both correlated with BNP, an established prognostic marker, and with medium-term systolic function after AMI, suggesting their potential prognostic role in this population. Further studies with larger samples are required to confirm the results of this pilot study and assess PETCO2 as a definite predictor of prognosis after AMI.


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