In order to produce movements, muscles must act through joints. The translation from muscle force to limb movement is mediated by internal joint structures that permit movement in some directions but constrain it in others. Although muscle forces acting against constrained directions will not affect limb movements, such forces can cause excess stresses and strains in joint structures, leading to pain or injury. In this study, we hypothesized that the central nervous system (CNS) chooses muscle activations to avoid excessive joint stresses and strains. We evaluated this hypothesis by examining adaptation strategies after selective paralysis of a muscle acting at the rat’s knee. We show that the CNS compromises between restoration of task performance and regulation of joint stresses and strains. These results have significant implications to our understanding of the neural control of movements, suggesting that common theories emphasizing task performance are insufficient to explain muscle activations during behaviors.

Alessandro, C., Rellinger, B., Barroso, F., Tresch, M. (2018). Adaptation after vastus lateralis denervation in rats demonstrates neural regulation of joint stresses and strains. ELIFE, 7 [10.7554/eLife.38215].

Adaptation after vastus lateralis denervation in rats demonstrates neural regulation of joint stresses and strains

Alessandro, C
Primo
;
2018

Abstract

In order to produce movements, muscles must act through joints. The translation from muscle force to limb movement is mediated by internal joint structures that permit movement in some directions but constrain it in others. Although muscle forces acting against constrained directions will not affect limb movements, such forces can cause excess stresses and strains in joint structures, leading to pain or injury. In this study, we hypothesized that the central nervous system (CNS) chooses muscle activations to avoid excessive joint stresses and strains. We evaluated this hypothesis by examining adaptation strategies after selective paralysis of a muscle acting at the rat’s knee. We show that the CNS compromises between restoration of task performance and regulation of joint stresses and strains. These results have significant implications to our understanding of the neural control of movements, suggesting that common theories emphasizing task performance are insufficient to explain muscle activations during behaviors.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
joint stress; motor control; muscle coordination; quadriceps; EMG; locomotion; knee
English
2018
7
e38215
open
Alessandro, C., Rellinger, B., Barroso, F., Tresch, M. (2018). Adaptation after vastus lateralis denervation in rats demonstrates neural regulation of joint stresses and strains. ELIFE, 7 [10.7554/eLife.38215].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/392280
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