Developing a methodology for the estimation of muscle fiber length during dynamic movement

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K11330
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59020:Sports sciences-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Takeshita Daisuke 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 准教授 (60847060)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 筋線維長 / 超音波測定器 / 筋腱複合体 / Hillモデル / バイオメカニクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The movement of muscle fibers during dynamic exercise is complicated by the elasticity of tendon tissue and is difficult to estimate from external information such as joint angles. The purpose of this study was to establish a method for estimating length changes of muscle fibers from joint angles and other information. Although we were not able to establish a method, we demonstrated the possibility of qualitatively understanding the movement of muscle fibers by measuring the stiffness of the muscle-tendon complex during exercise. In particular, this study suggested that the triceps muscle fiber length change differs from joint angle change during dynamic movements such as hopping, suggesting that the stiffness of the muscle-tendon complex may be a useful indicator.

Free Research Field

バイオメカニクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

筋線維が発揮できる力は筋線維の収縮速度に依存するため、運動中の筋線維の挙動を理解することは重要です。本研究の結果は、関節角度など身体外部から観察できる情報から、運動中の筋線維の長さ変化を定性的に理解できることを示唆します。これは、身体を効率良く動かすにはどのようにすれば良いのかといった知見につながるものと考えられます。また、体育教育、スポーツ指導、リハビリテーションなどの分野において基礎的な知識となります。