Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Force control is greater in the upper compared with the lower extremity.

Evangelos A Christou1, Mark Zelent, Les G Carlton

  • 1Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0354, USA. echristo@colorado.edu

Journal of Motor Behavior
|November 11, 2003
PubMed
Summary

The upper limb demonstrates superior force control compared to the lower limb. This difference in motor control may stem from the upper limb

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Trajectory dynamics and endpoint accuracy in targeted ballistic contractions.

Experimental brain research·2026
Same author

Reply to Rudroff.

Journal of neurophysiology·2026
Same author

The effect of thalamic deep brain stimulation on obstacle clearance in essential tremor.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2026
Same author

Thalamic Neurostimulation and Effects on Movement Consolidation in Essential Tremor.

Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society·2026
Same author

Distinct effects of visual gain manipulation on force variability and smoothness during constant isometric contractions.

Journal of neurophysiology·2025
Same author

The Impact of Cognitive Impairment on Pedal Control and Crash Risk Following Stroke: A Pilot Study.

Restorative neurology and neuroscience·2025

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Motor Control
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Force control is crucial for daily activities and athletic performance.
  • Understanding limb-specific differences in force control can inform rehabilitation and training strategies.
  • Previous research has not extensively compared force control between upper and lower limbs during rapid contractions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate similarities and differences in force control between the upper and lower limbs.
  • To examine the effect of single- versus multi-joint contractions on force control variability.
  • To determine if limb dominance influences force production consistency.

Main Methods:

  • Six healthy volunteers performed discrete rapid force responses at 30, 60, and 90 N.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Experiments utilized three postures for the upper limb and three for the lower limb, with one posture per limb involving two joints.
  • Variability in peak force and impulse was analyzed using standard deviation.

    • Main Results:

    • The lower limb exhibited significantly greater force variability (approximately 25%) compared to the upper limb (p <.01).
    • Force control variability was similar for single- and double-joint contractions within each limb.
    • No significant differences were observed between dominant and non-dominant limbs.

    Conclusions:

    • The upper limb possesses superior force control compared to the lower limb.
    • Extensive use of the upper limb in fine motor tasks may contribute to enhanced force regulation.
    • Findings suggest potential differences in neural control strategies between upper and lower extremities.