The main function of skeletal muscle is mechanical. After stimulation, skeletal muscle contracts to develop muscle tension, which is transmitted to the periphery. Structural studies have shown that muscles are composed of contractile and elastic structures. Even if the fundamental mechanical property is located at the level of muscle fiber, further architectural structures of skeletal muscle interfere with the transmission of the devloped tension to the periphery. Studying the mechanical properties from isolated muscle fiber up to muscle in humans furthers understanding variationss in muscle function.

According to a fundamental muscle model, we qualify and quantify the mechanical properties of skeletal muscle at 3 elementary muscle structures:

CONTRACTILE STRUCTURES
Actin-myosin cross-bridges
Role in force production capacities.

ELASTIC STRUCTURES
(activated muscle)
Actin-myosin cross-bridges, tendons
Role in force transmission to the

periphery and improvement in the output

of muscle contraction.

ELASTIC STRUCTURES (muscle at rest)
Connective tissues, sarcolemma,

Intermediate filaments.
Role in integrity and maintenance

of muscular structures.

4 standard tests
(tetanic tension, twitch tension, isokinetic test, slack-test)
                                                                    Measurements and analyses of Force generation capacities under dynamic and static conditions Muscle fatigability
Time dependency of muscle contraction  

4 standard tests
(tetanic tension, twitch tension, isokinetic test, slack-test)
                                                                    Measurements and analyses of
Muscle viscous-elastic properties
(e.g. musculotendinous stiffness)