Subject specific coordination of two- and one-joint muscles during landings suggests multiple control criteria

The target article, thoughtfully constructed by Dr. Prilutsky, effectively synthesizes available data on multijoint movements regarding coordination patterns of major two- and one-joint muscles, provides evidence for an optimization criterion that predicts critical features of muscle activation patterns, and explores the functional consequences of muscle coordination. This work also provides a clear set of definitions and an organizational framework that is currently needed for a productive interdisciplinary discussion regarding the underlying control mechanisms used during realistic multijoint movements. Although identification of an optimization criterion that predicts muscle recruitment strategies would greatly simplify control logic required for rehabilitation and musculoskeletal modeling, our experimental data during landings indicate more than one criterion may exist. Preliminary review of our experimental landing data suggests the rules identified by Prilutsky apparently hold for some subjects during portions of the landing movements. The presence of more than one muscle activation pattern used to achieve the same NJMs demonstrates there may be more than one optimization criterion that predicts critical features of muscle activation patterns. The functional consequences of more than one control criterion may also prove to be an asset, particularly when adapting to different environmental constraints.