Based on myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform, human skeletal muscle fibers can be categorized into three fiber types, type I, IIa, IIx fibers, and each fiber type has different characteristics. Typical characteristics are difference in force production, shortening velocity, and fatigue resistance. When the muscle is contract and stretched by a force that is greater than the force generated by the ...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the behavior of human muscle fascicles during dynamic contractions. Eight subjects performed maximal isometric dorsiflexion contractions at six ankle joint angles and maximal isokinetic concentric and eccentric contractions at five angular velocities. Tibialis anterior muscle architecture was measured in vivo by use of B-mode ultrasonography. Duri...

Fibre-reinforced composite materials are widespread in lightweight, high-performance applications. However, polymeric composites generally exhibit a brittle behaviour, which makes them susceptible to impact damage. Even low-velocity impacts can produce delaminations, cause substantial reduction of the compressive mechanical properties. Metallic layers have been embedded laminates with aim impro...

Many locomotor activities require muscles to actively lengthen, dissipate energy and decelerate the body. These eccentric contractions can disrupt cytoskeletal structures within myofibrils and reduce force output. We examined how architectural features of pennate muscles can provide a protective mechanism against eccentric muscle damage by limiting fascicle lengthening. It has been previously s...

Many normal individuals show ocular oscillations on eccentric gaze. This study was designed to investigate the effect of visual disengagement and visual feedback on the nature of these end point oscillations. Three test conditions were examined: target present, target absent and when the target position was determined by the subject's eye position via a variable feedback control system. Feedbac...

The countermovement jump (CMJ) is commonly used to explore sex differences in neuromuscular function, but previous studies have only reported gross CMJ measures or have partly examined CMJ phase characteristics. The purpose of this study was to explore differences in CMJ phase characteristics between male and female athletes by comparing the force-, power-, velocity-, and displacement-time curv...