An alternative view of the concept of utilisation of elastic energy in human movement

Abstract

It is widely accepted that the series elastic component (SEC) of muscles and tendons plays an important role in dynamic human movements. Many experiments seem to show that during a pre-stretch movement energy can be stored in the SEC which is re-used during the subsequent concentric contraction. Mechanical calculations were performed to calculate the capacity for muscles and tendons to store elastic energy. The storage of elastic energy in muscle tissue appears to be negligible. In tendons some energy can be stored but the total elastic capacity of the tendons of the lower extremities appears far too small to explain reported advantages of a pre-stretch during jumping and running. Based on literature concerning chemical change and enthalpy production during experiments on isolated muscles, a model is proposed which can explain the advantages of a preliminary counter movement on force and work output during the subsequent concentric contraction. The main advantage of a pre-stretch, as seen in movements like jumping, throwing and running, seems to be to prevent a waste of cross bridges at the onset of a contraction in taking up the slack of the muscle. The model can explain why the mechanical efficiency in running can be much higher than in cycling. A muscle which is stretched prior to concentric contraction can do more work at the same metabolic cost when compared with a concentric contraction without pre-stretch.