A MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR STUDYING MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF HUMAN MUSCLES IN-VIVO

A mechanical device. primarily devoted to biomechanical studies of hum an calf muscles during microgravity experiments is presented. It allow s investigation of both contractile and visco-elastic properties of mu sculo-articular systems using, respectively, isokinetic movements, qui ck-release tests and sinusoidal perturbations. This device is a specif ically designed ergometer associated to an experimental protocol desig ned for pre-and post-flight tests. The protocol was evaluated on 22 he althy subjects and typical results are briefly presented. Preliminary results are discussed in terms of agreement with currently available d ata and a detailed evaluation of test-retest measurements is provided for quick-release experiments. Complementary investigations are sugges ted and potential fields of research are indicated. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.