Key result
Active shortening significantly changed the length-force characteristics of rat muscle, resulting in curves that were very different from the fully isometric length-force curve.
The traditional fully isometric length-force curve is a poor estimator of the length-force curve during dynamic contractions of muscle.
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Questions isometric curves for dynamic contractions; leaves open translation to human cardiac or skeletal muscle mechanics.
Meijer et al. (1997) studied Healthy rat muscle (medial gastrocnemius). Isokinetic and isotonic muscle shortening vs. Fully isometric contractions was evaluated on Length-force characteristics (maximum muscle force, optimum muscle length, and active slack length). Active shortening significantly changed the length-force characteristics of rat muscle, resulting in curves that were very different from the fully isometric length-force curve.
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