Biceps Femoris Long Head and Short Head Muscle Modeling and Kinematics during Four Classes of Lower Limb Motion and Gait

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Date
2010-09-22T21:07:51Z
Authors
Villafranca, Alexander J.
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Abstract
Theoretical mechanical benefits of biarticular muscles include reduced displacements and force potentiating shifts in linear velocities during multi-joint coupled motions. A cadaveric model was developed to compute muscle kinematics of biceps femoris (BFL and BFS) during four classes of coupled knee and hip joint motion, as well as running and walking gait (Six subjects, Vicon Motion Analysis). The examples of the classes of motion were: KEHE-jump (knee extension and hip extension), KFHF-tuck (knee flexion and hip flexion), KFHE-kick (knee flexion and hip extension), and KEHF-paw (knee extension and hip flexion). BFL peak and mean velocity shifts relative to BFS were seen in all four coupling classes (p<0.05) and the majority of the gait subclasses (p<0.05). Muscle displacements were larger in BFL for both KFHE-paw and KEHF-kick (p<0.05), smaller in KFHF-tuck (p<0.05), but not significantly different in KEHE-jump or during most of the running gait subclasses, except for during KFHE-late mid stance and KEHF-mid swing, where they were larger for BFL (p<0.05). The mechanical benefits associated with BFL velocity shift relative to BFs were identified in KFHF, KEHF motions, and certain subclasses of gait. In contrast, there were potential mechanical detriments due to velocity shift relative to BFs in the KEHE-jump, KFHE-paw, and the majority of KEHE and KFHE subclasses in both gait cycles. The possible mechanical benefits associated with displacement conservation of BFL relative to BFs would be realized in KFHF-tuck jump, but not during KEHE-jump and the gait cycle subclasses. The findings of this study reveal both mechanical benefits and detriments of biarticular muscles, and have immediate implications for neural control of biarticular muscles during movement.
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Biarticular, muscle modeling, motor control, biceps femoris
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