Force- and moment-generating capacity of lower-extremity muscles before and after tendon lengthening

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1992 Nov:(284):247-59.

Abstract

A computer model of the human lower extremity was developed to study how surgical lengthening of tendon affects the force- and moment-generating capacity of the muscles. This model computes the maximum isometric force and the resulting joint moments that each muscle-tendon complex can develop at any body position. Tendon lengthenings were simulated by increasing the tendon length of each muscle-tendon complex and computing the change in the maximum isometric muscle force and joint moments at a specific body position. These simulations showed that the forces and moments developed by the ankle plantarflexors are extremely sensitive to changes in tendon length. For example, at a body position corresponding to the midstance phase of gait, the maximum isometric moment generated by soleus decreased 30% with a 1-cm increase in tendon length, and 85% with a 2-cm increase in tendon length. In contrast, 1- and 2-cm increases in iliopsoas tendon length decreased its hip flexion moment by only 4% and 9%, respectively. This article quantifies the sensitivity of muscle force and joint moments to changes in tendon length for the most commonly lengthened lower-extremity tendons. These results indicate how much each of these tendons should be lengthened to achieve an incremental decrease in muscle force or joint moment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Ankle Joint / physiology
  • Computer Graphics
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Hip Joint / physiology
  • Humans
  • Isometric Contraction
  • Knee Joint / physiology
  • Models, Biological*
  • Movement
  • Muscles / physiology
  • Tendons / surgery*