Sarcomere length changes in muscles of the human thigh during walking.

In a previous investigation (Cutts, 1988a) sarcomere lengths were determined for muscles of the thigh in the anatomical position, and a method devised for the prediction of sarcomere lengths at other positions. In the present investigation, this information was used to predict the sarcomere length changes in the muscles of the thigh during walking, in conjunction with ciné film and bone models of experimental subjects. When compared with the length tension curve for human muscle (Walker & Schrodt, 1973), the results indicate that during walking the muscles operate at sarcomere lengths near the plateau of the curve, where maximum tension can be realised.