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Effects of Series Elasticity on the Human Knee Extension Torque-Angle Relationship in Vivo

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of series elasticity on the torque-angle relationship of the knee extensors in vivo. Forty-two men volunteered to take part in the present study. The participants performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions at eight knee-joint angles (40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110°). The elongation of the tendon and aponeurosis of the vastus lateralis muscle was directly measured by ultrasonography, while the participants performed ramp isometric knee extensions to the voluntary maximum at 80° of knee angle. There was no significant difference in the torque value between 50° and 100°, although there was variation in the shape of the “torque-angle” relationship. The variability in the torqueangle curve was not affected by the activation level of agonist and antagonist muscles and the moment arm length. The ratio of torque at 100° compared to that at 50° was significantly (r2 = 18–23%) correlated to the maximal elongation and strain (to initial length) of the tendon structures. These results suggest that increased compliance of tendon structures of the knee extensors may contribute to variations in the torque-angle curves of the knee extensors.