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Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Procedures for Rat in situ Skeletal Muscle Contractile Properties
Published on: October 15, 2011
The Influence of Contraction Types on the Relationship Between the Intended Force and the Actual Force
Takeshi Miyamoto1, Tomohiro Kizuka2, Seiji Ono2
1Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Abstract:
It has been demonstrated that the intended force (subjective estimation of force) does not always match to actual force without external feedback. The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of ballistic and tonic contractions on the relationship between the intended and actual force. Subjects produced isometric force at requested percentages of their MVC (20, 40, 60 and 80%) based on subjective estimation of force under two conditions (tonic and ballistic conditions). The tonic condition was to maintain force production, whereas the ballistic condition was to produce force as fast as possible. As a result, the actual force amplitude, the coefficient of variance and EMG amplitude were larger under the ballistic contraction compared with the tonic condition, even the same intended force levels. These results suggest that different motor unit activity and control systems in the ballistic and tonic contractions could alter the relationship between the intended force and the actual force.
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