The interplay between gastrocnemius medialis force-length and force-velocity potentials, cumulative EMG activity and energy cost at speeds above and below the walk to run transition speed

Abstract

New findings: What is the central question of the study? Are the changes in force potentials (at the muscle level) related with metabolic changes at speeds above and below the walk-to-run transition? What is the main finding and its importance? The force-length and force-velocity potentials of gastrocnemius medialis during human walking decrease as a function of speed; this decrease is associated with an increase in cumulative EMG activity and in the energy cost of locomotion. Switching from fast walking to running is associated to an increase in the force potentials, supporting the idea that the 'metabolic trigger' that determines the transition from walking to running is ultimately driven by a reduction of the muscle's contractile capacity.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the interplay between the force-length (F-L) and force-velocity (F-V) potentials of gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle fascicles, the cumulative muscle activity per distance travelled (CMAPD) of the lower limb muscles (GM, vastus lateralis, biceps femori, tibialis anterior) and net energy cost (C_net ) during walking and running at speeds above and below the walk-to-run transition speed (walking: 2-8 km h^-1 ; running: 6-10 km h^-1 ). A strong association was observed between C_net and CMAPD: both changed significantly with walking speed but were unaffected by speed in running. The F-L and F-V potentials decreased with speed in both gaits and, at 6-8 km h^-1 , were significantly larger in running. At low to moderate walking speeds (2-6 km h^-1 ), the changes in GM force potentials were not associated with substantial changes in CMAPD (and C_net ), whereas at walking speeds of 7-8 km h^-1 , even small changes in force potentials were associated with steep increases in CMAPD (and C_net ). These data suggest that: (i) the walk to run transition could be explained by an abrupt increase in C_net driven by an upregulation of the EMG activity (e.g., in CMAPD) at sustained walking speeds (>7 km h^-1 ) and (ii) the reduction in the muscle's ability to produce force (e.g., in the F-L and F-V potentials) contributes to the increase in CMAPD (and C_net ). Switching to running allows regaining of high force potentials, thus limiting the increase in CMAPD (and C_net ) that would otherwise occur to sustain the increase in locomotion speed.

Keywords: energy cost; force potentials; locomotion.