Muscle redundancy does not imply robustness to muscle dysfunction

JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS

卷:44

Article

Kutch, Jason J.¹  Valero-Cuevas, Francisco J.^1,2 

[1] Univ So Calif, Dept Biomed Engn, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA

[2] Univ So Calif, Div Biokinesiol & Phys Therapy, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA

关键词: Muscle redundancy;    Motor control;    Computational models;    Limb biomechanics;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.02.014

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

It is well-known that muscle redundancy grants the CNS numerous options to perform a task. Does muscle redundancy, however, allow sufficient robustness to compensate for loss or dysfunction of even a single muscle? Are all muscles equally redundant? We combined experimental and computational approaches to establish the limits of motor robustness for static force production. In computer-controlled cadaveric index fingers, we find that only a small subset (< 5%) of feasible forces is robust to loss of any one muscle. Importantly, the loss of certain muscles compromises force production significantly more than others. Further computational modeling of a multi-joint, multi-muscle leg demonstrates that this severe lack of robustness generalizes to whole limbs. These results provide a biomechanical basis to begin to explain why redundant motor systems can be vulnerable to even mild neuromuscular pathology. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free