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Force and contraction time relation in skeletal muscles of children and adults

V Gatev1, M Stefanova-Uzunova, L Stamatova

  • 1Department of Developmental Physiology, Research Institute of Pediatrics, Sofia.

Agressologie: Revue Internationale De Physio-Biologie Et De Pharmacologie Appliquees Aux Effets De L'Agression
|January 1, 1979
PubMed

Insights

Muscle contraction time (CT) and active state decline (DAS) change with force in older children and adults, but not infants. Elastic properties influence CT in the triceps surae muscle.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Understanding muscle physiology across developmental stages is crucial for assessing neuromuscular function.
  • Previous research has explored force-contraction dynamics, but age-specific differences require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between contraction force and time parameters (contraction time, plateau of active state, decline of active state) in human infant, child, and adult muscles.
  • To compare these relationships between the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) and triceps surae (TS) muscle groups across different age groups.

Main Methods:

  • Isometric twitch contractions were elicited in the FCU and TS muscles of 5-week-old infants, 3-year-old children, and adults.
  • Key parameters measured included contraction time (CT), duration of the plateau of active state (PAS), and time of the decline of active state (DAS) at varying contraction forces.

Main Results:

  • For the FCU muscle, CT, PAS, and DAS remained constant with increasing force across all age groups.
  • In 5-week-old infants, TS muscle parameters also showed no change with increasing force.
  • In 3-year-old children and adults, CT and DAS decreased with increasing force for TS; PAS decreased in adults but less significantly than CT and DAS.

Conclusions:

  • The force-contraction time relationship in human skeletal muscle is age-dependent, with significant changes observed in older children and adults compared to infants.
  • The elastic properties of the muscle play a key role in modulating contraction time changes with force, particularly in the triceps surae.
  • These findings highlight developmental changes in muscle contractile properties and their force-dependent regulation.

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