Force responses to constant-velocity shortening of electrically stimulated human muscle-tendon complex

Force-velocity curves in human muscle often have unexpectedly high forces at high velocities. If series elasticity is the cause, it should have less effect at lower activation levels and larger shortening amplitudes. The first dorsal interosseus muscle-tendon complex was shortened at different levels of activation and by different amplitudes. Force-velocity curves had high force well maintained at high velocities. With an actuator release of 4.21 mm at 80% of maximal activation, force was > 45% of isometric force (Po) for all actuator velocities > 200 mm/s (1.49 muscle lengths/s). At 30% activation, the force was > 25% of Po at these velocities. The smaller 2.46-mm releases produced higher forces than the 4.21-mm releases at these velocities. At 80% activation, force was > 65% of Po, and at 30% activation, it was > 50% of Po at these velocities. Corrections of these data for elasticity produced classic Hill-type force-velocity curves. A model incorporating the Hill force-velocity equation and a spring in series accounts for the results.