Recording of length-tension relationship of elbow flexors and extensors by varying elbow angle in human

Abstract

Objectives: The concept of length-tension relationship in skeletal muscle can be studied in a living person by demonstrating the relationship between isometric strength and joint angles. There is lack of an effective practical module to demonstrate this concept in living person, hence the study was planned. Materials and Methods: A simple, feasible and novel practical is designed using a custom-made isometric elbow flexion-extension exercising instrument, in which isometric elbow strength is measured using a dynamometer against various elbow joint angles measured using a goniometer. Result: Elbow isometric strength varied across its joint angles and was maximum at the optimum angle, which was 90°. Conclusion: We propose a simple and novel practical to understand the skeletal muscle length-tension relationship in a living person partly, by using the angle-strength relationship for undergraduate teaching in physiology.