Antagonistic-synergistic muscle action at the knee during competitive weightlifting

A sagittal-plane model of the knee, which takes account of the movements of the flexion axis relative to the femur and tibia and considers the possibility of antagonistic and synergistic muscle action, is used to determine the values of the forces transmitted by the muscles, cruciate ligaments and intra-articular surfaces during the clean phase of the clean-and-jerk weightlift. The theoretical analyses demonstrate that it is geometrically and mechanically possible for the knee musculature to unload and thereby protect the cruciate ligaments throughout a substantial portion of the lift. The price to be paid for this protection, in the case of the co-contraction of antagonistic muscles, is larger muscle and tibio-fermoral contact forces. The application of synergistic muscle action, however, results in smaller individual muscle and intra-articular contact forces.