Vastus lateralis maximum force-generating potential occurs at optimal fascicle length regardless of activation level

摘要

Purpose Despite the fact that everyday movements are hardly ever performed with muscles contracting maximally, our understanding of the force-length relationship is mostly based on in vitro studies using maximal activation. In this study, the in vivo submaximal and maximal force-length relationships of vastus-lateralis were investigated. Force-length relationships were obtained based on maximal and submaximal levels of force and, also, on EMG activation.