Is the behaviour of the leg during oscillation linear?

Hunter, G. D.; Spriggs, J.; Coveney, V. A.

Abstract

The linear behaviour of the human leg was studied using a free oscillation method. The lower leg is represented by a simple mass, spring and dashpot model. Forty-five subjects underwent free vibration tests on their right legs. The force amplitude and the time period, for successive oscillations enabled calculation of the stiffness to mass ratio values. It was found that the time period of the second oscillation cycle was significantly lower than that of the first, implying a corresponding increase in stiffness. The experimental data consistently exhibits these non-linear characteristics, indicating that the use of non-linear models could be of benefit for future free oscillation studies. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Aug 4, 2001
• Journal: Journal of Biomechanics
• Print ISSN: 0021-9290
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 827-830
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9290%2801%2900017-3
• Keywords: lower leg, stiffness, free oscillation, modelling, non-linearity
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1086753
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9290(01)00017-3
• Additional Information: Additional Information : No adequate methods for prediction of hamstring muscle-tendon unit injury in sports men and women existed. Research (funded by the Football Association) into improved methods of testing and analysis and improved understanding of MTU behaviour is described in the article. This has led to invitations to disseminate and explain the novel findings to Physiotherapists and Clinicians - eg invited presentation to Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. Resulting insights are under consideration by UK Sport, London (contact D Hunter).