Two components of motor time: the tension lag and the tension-developing phase

Motor time (MT) of the rectus femoris muscle for knee extension under loading on the leg with different weights and latency of isometric tension from the onset of electromyographic activities of the muscle were examined in 7 normal men. MT was linearly related to weights-loaded, indicating that the rate of rapid development of tension was almost linear even in its early phase. MT without a load obtained by calculation using the regression equation and the estimated weight of the leg and foot coincided with latency of isometric tension. It is assumed that MT is composed of two consecutive phases, a tension-lag phase and a rapid tension-developing phase.