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Residual force enhancement in finger flexors
Our robotic finger training should be used to mimic lengthening of the finger flexors while they are constantly activated to study the residual force enhancement in a multi-joint movement typical for climbers.
Keywords: biomechanics, climbing, muscle forces, eccentric-isometric-concentric force development
After muscle lengthening while maintaining muscle activation, isometric force is than that of a purely isometric contraction at the same final muscle length (see Figure 1). This fundamental phenomenon of skeletal muscles is called residual force enhancement and has been observed for single joint movements in artificial laboratory tasks. However, this phenomenon has rarely been studied in activities of daily living or in sports because it is difficult to determine a suitable movement and set up the experiment accordingly. When you crimp over the head in climbing, your finger flexors are lengthened to some extent while you constantly activate them. By our robotic finger trainer (see Figure 2), we can mimic this quite common situation while controlling the amount of lengthening and measuring the finger forces developed. The aim of the proposed project is therefore to replicate results obtained so far in literature in a multi-joint movement typical for climbers.
After muscle lengthening while maintaining muscle activation, isometric force is than that of a purely isometric contraction at the same final muscle length (see Figure 1). This fundamental phenomenon of skeletal muscles is called residual force enhancement and has been observed for single joint movements in artificial laboratory tasks. However, this phenomenon has rarely been studied in activities of daily living or in sports because it is difficult to determine a suitable movement and set up the experiment accordingly. When you crimp over the head in climbing, your finger flexors are lengthened to some extent while you constantly activate them. By our robotic finger trainer (see Figure 2), we can mimic this quite common situation while controlling the amount of lengthening and measuring the finger forces developed. The aim of the proposed project is therefore to replicate results obtained so far in literature in a multi-joint movement typical for climbers.
- Get familiar with the relevant literature
- Elaborate the existing robotic finger trainer and existing test protocol
- Formulate research hypothesis specific for climbers
- Execute tests and analyse data
- Present results and write report
- Get familiar with the relevant literature - Elaborate the existing robotic finger trainer and existing test protocol - Formulate research hypothesis specific for climbers - Execute tests and analyse data - Present results and write report
- Comparison of theoretical and laboratory-proven muscle properties with real-world conditions
- Exploration of unique measurement setup
- Data collection may happen in the programme for visitors of the Climbing World Championships
- Comparison of theoretical and laboratory-proven muscle properties with real-world conditions - Exploration of unique measurement setup - Data collection may happen in the programme for visitors of the Climbing World Championships
Human Movement Science and Sport
Human Movement Science and Sport
Peter Wolf, pwolf@ethz.ch
Sensory-Motor Systems Lab, ETH Zurich
Peter Wolf, pwolf@ethz.ch Sensory-Motor Systems Lab, ETH Zurich