Effects Of Altered Gravity On Jumping Performance And Intermuscular Control.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of altered gravity on human jump performance and intermuscular control. A musculoskeletal model was used to determine jump height, muscle power and energy delivered to the skeletal system (jump performance), and changes in muscle neuroexcitation and activation patterns (intermuscular control) for different values of gravity. The different values of gravity ranged from 0.2 to 1.8 times earth gravity. Prior to analyzing the musculoskeletal model solutions, the model solutions were validated by comparing predicted jump heights, time-required-to-jump, ground reaction force, joint kinematics and muscle neuroexcitations to measured experimental data collected in increased gravitational environments. JMD