L. Out et al., INFLUENCE OF THE PARAMETERS OF A HUMAN TRICEPS SURAE MUSCLE MODEL ON THE ISOMETRIC TORQUE-ANGLE RELATIONSHIP, Journal of biomechanical engineering, 118(1), 1996, pp. 17-25
This study investigates the influence of parameter values of the human
triceps surae muscle on the torque-angle relationship. The model used
consisted of three units, each containing a contractile, a series ela
stic and a parallel elastic element. Parameter values were based on mo
rphological characteristics, which made it possible to model individua
l units. However, for a number of parameters the values reported in th
e literature vary considerably. It was investigated how sensitive mode
l results were for variation of these parameters. Slack length of the
series elastic element, mean moment arm, maximum force, and length of
the contractile element appeared to be the most important determinants
of the behavior. For mean moment arm and contractile element length,
morphology-based methods of estimation could be recommended. Slack len
gth and maximum force were obtained through optimization. It was concl
uded that the model does not contain parameters on which its output de
pends strongly and which are difficult to estimate as well, with two e
xceptions: slack length of the series elastic element and maximum forc
e.