Role of intrinsic muscle properties in producing smooth movements

1997 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Krylow ◽  
W.Z. Rymer
Motor Control ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Andreas Straube ◽  
Thomas Eggert

Unexpected small perturbations during reaching movements are normally compensated for automatically. Previous studies of such perturbations observed that the movement trajectory converges back to the preplanned end position. The question remains whether peripheral mechanisms formed by intrinsic muscle properties and stretch reflex are efficient for compensating for such perturbations. Even though this is suggested by a threshold position control model highlighting the role of peripheral mechanisms under central control in movement generation, it is neither developed nor extensively tested for this capability. The present study tests how this model can account for the compensation during single-joint fast reaching. Motor responses to transient, unpredictable, small perturbations at different movement phases were measured and compared with the model predictions. The results show good agreement concerning kinematic and dynamic responses. Simulations with altered mechanical parameters of the model suggest that reflexive responses are well tuned to the intrinsic muscle properties. We conclude that under central control, peripheral mechanisms cope efficiently with small transient perturbations.


Author(s):  
Allison White ◽  
Hannah Abbott ◽  
Alfonse Masi ◽  
Kalyani Nair

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a degenerative rheumatological disorder that mainly affects the spine. It has been reported that different degrees of human resting myofascial tone (HRMT) would affect spinal stability and may predispose to the respective curvature deformities of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and the enthesopathy of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Although osteoligamentous impacts are prominently recognized in many chronic spine and low back conditions, no research has been performed on the possible role of passive axial (spinal) myofascial tone as a causative factor. In this particular study, the passive muscle properties of the lower lumbar regions of 24 healthy adults and 24 adult AS subjects were examined. Our recent publications examined the linear elastic properties among normal and AS subjects. In this study, those analyses are expanded to include detailed analysis and correlations of the linear elastic property of stiffness to two viscoelastic properties: stress relaxation time (SRT) and creep. Analyzed data supports the hypothesis that resting muscle properties of the lower lumbar muscles hold significance in differentiation of human back health between healthy and diseased subjects, but more testing should be performed to support this study’s results.


2009 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 528
Author(s):  
Astrid M. Horstman ◽  
Karin H. Gerrits ◽  
Thomas W. Janssen ◽  
Arnold de Haan

2006 ◽  
Vol 182 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 129-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshinobu Ohira ◽  
Tomoo Yoshinaga ◽  
Makoto Ohara ◽  
Fuminori Kawano ◽  
Xiao Dong Wang ◽  
...  

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