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Cited by 1,144Muscle activation and electromyography studiesMuscle Physiology and DisordersCardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies

The effects of length and stimulus rate on tension in the isometric cat soleus muscle

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Rack, P. M. H., Westbury, D. R.·1969·The Journal of Physiology
DOI 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008923PMC PMC1351563
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Abstract

1. By subdividing ventral roots and supplying stimulating pulses to different groups of motor units in rotation, smooth contractions of soleus could be obtained with low rates of stimulation.2. Isometric tension was recorded with different rates of stimulation, and at different muscle lengths.3. Longitudinal histological sections were cut from muscles fixed at different lengths, and sarcomeres were measured. Mean sarcomere lengths in soleus could then be related to the angle at the ankle.4. At high rates of stimulation the maximum active tension was obtained at a length corresponding to an angle of about 60 degrees at the ankle, and a mean sarcomere length of about 2.8 mu. The isometric tension fell only slightly on shortening the muscle to a length equivalent to 100 degrees , and a mean sarcomere length about 2.3 mu. Further shortening caused a marked fall in tension.5. There was a reciprocal relationship between stimulus rate and muscle length; when the muscle was long low rates of stimulation gave near maximal tension, whereas at short lengths the maximum tension was reached only when the stimulus rate was very high. It is suggested that stimulating pulses activate the contractile machinery of the muscle more effectively at long than at short muscle lengths.6. When at low rates of stimulation pulses were distributed among the motor units in rotation to give a smooth contraction, the tension rose higher than during the unfused tetanus that accompanied synchronous stimulatio…

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Crossref · 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008923

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  • Force output is greater with asynchronous stimulation at submaximal stimulation frequencies.

    “Evoked stimulation studies have shown that force output is greater with asynchronous stimulation at submaximal stimulation frequencies {Lind and Petrofsky, 197S; Rack and Westbury, 1969).”

    From Velocity Specificity of Resistance Training (1993) · cites this paper as Rack and Westbury, 1969

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Authors
Rack, P. M. H., & Westbury, D. R.
Venue
The Journal of Physiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1969-10
Volume
204
Issue
2
Pages
443-460
ISSN
  • 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008923
PMC
PMC1351563
OpenAlex
W2142648872
Cited by
1,144
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 27
FWCI
10.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies
Keywords
soleus muscle, isometric force, length-tension relationship, stimulation rate, sarcomere length, isometric tetanus, ankle joint angle
MeSH terms
Animals, Cats, Electric Stimulation, Muscle Contraction, Muscles, Myofibrils, Neuromuscular Junction, Time Factors

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