Storage of Elastic Energy in Skeletal Muscles in Man

Abstract

The question, if muscles can absorb and temporarily store mechanical energy in the form of elastic energy for later re‐use, was studied by having subjects perform maximal vertical jumps on a registering force‐platform. The jumps were performed 1) from a semi‐squatting position, 2) after a natural counter‐movement from a standing position, or 3) in continuation of jumps down from heights of 0.23, 0.40, or 0.69 m. The heights of the jumps were calculated from the registered flight times. The maximum energy level, E neg, of the jumpers prior to the upward movement in the jump, was considered to be zero in condition 1. In condition 2 it was calculated from the force‐time record of the force‐platform; and in condition 3 it was calculated from the height of the downward jump and the weight of the subject. The maximum energy level after take‐off, E p0 s, was calculated from the height of the jump and the jumper's weight. It was found that the height of the jump and Epos increased with increasing amounts of E neg, up to a certain level (jumping down from 0.40 m). The gains in E pos over that in condition 1, were expressed as a percentage of E neg and found to be 22.9 % in condition 2, and 13.2, 10.5, and 3.3 % in the three situations of condition 3. It is suggested that the elastic energy is stored in the active muscles, and it is demonstrated that the muscles of the legs are activated in the downward jumps before contact with the platform is established.