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

本研究的目的是开发一套基于实时超声的人体肌肉功能与结构特征评估系统。本研究开发的超声成像新系统使直接测量人体运动过程中肌纤维和肌腱组织的体内动态行为成为可能。结果表明，肌腱组织非常柔顺，肌纤维甚至缩短了“等距”关节动作。这些肌腱组织的弹性在诸如跳跃和行走等人类运动中诱导肌肉纤维更有效的收缩。由此可见，关节作用的机械力主要是由肌腱组织的弹性反冲产生的，而肌肉纤维主要是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.