A mechanical device for studying mechanical properties of human muscles in vivo.

A mechanical device, primarily devoted to biomechanical studies of human calf muscles during microgravity experiments is presented. It allows investigation of both contractile and visco-elastic properties of musculo-articular systems using, respectively, isokinetic movements, quick-release tests and sinusoidal perturbations. This device is a specifically designed ergometer associated to an experimental protocol designed for pre- and post-flight tests. The protocol was evaluated on 22 healthy subjects and typical results are briefly presented. Preliminary results are discussed in terms of agreement with currently available data and a detailed evaluation of test-retest measurements is provided for quick-release experiments. Complementary investigations are suggested and potential fields of research are indicated.