Development of evaluation system for human muscle characteristics by means of ultrasonography

本研究的目的是利用实时超声技术建立人体肌肉功能和结构特征的评价系统。本研究开发的使用超声的新系统使在活体内直接测量肌肉纤维和肌腱组织在人体运动中的动态行为成为可能。结果表明，肌腱组织是如此的顺从，以至于肌肉纤维甚至缩短了“等长”的关节动作。这些肌腱组织的弹性导致肌肉纤维在人类跳跃和行走等运动中更有效地收缩。因此，关节作用所产生的机械力主要是由肌腱组织的弹性反冲引起的，而肌肉纤维通过静态收缩更有效地产生机械力。

The purpose of the present study is to develop the evaluation system for functional and architectural characteristics of human muscle by means of real-tune ultrasonography. The new system using ultrasonography developed in the present study made it possible to measure directly in vivo dynamic behavior of muscle fiber and tendinous tissues during human movements. Results indicated that tendinous tissues were so compliant that muscle fiber shortened even "isometric" joint actions. These elasticity of tendinous tissues induces more efficient contraction of muscle fiber during such human movements as jumping and walking. Thus the mechanical power performed by joint action were caused by mainly elastic recoil of tendinous tissues, while muscle fiber produce mainly mechanical force more efficiently with static contraction.