Abstract des Autors

Muscle actions are often defined within a single anatomical reference plane. Yet animals must control posture and movement within a three-dimensional (3-D) environment, responding to a 3-D array of perturbing forces. Based on information gained regarding the 3-D muscle mechanics at the cat ankle joint complex (companion paper), we decided to study how alterations in the 3-D AJC orientation might affect ankle joint postural control. We used a 6 degree-of-freedom force-moment sensor to assess the affect of ankle joint orientation on the 3-D isometric joint torques evoked by electrical stimulation of muscles crossing the ankle joint complex (AJC) in the deeply anesthetized cat. An orthogonal axis system was established at the designated ankle rotation center, such that pitch (flexion-extension), yaw (abduction-adduction), and roll (inversion-eversion) axis torques were calculated. Experimental results suggest that both the magnitude and sign of extra-sagittal torques from the gastrocnemius muscles are joint angle dependent. Also, the hind limb levering system stabilizes the AJC against large yaw and roll rotations away from the control position. Verf.-Referat