Equilibrium Point Hypotesis

Models of motor control, are schemes that try to explain the different types of human movement and how they are made. Feldman, Asatryan and Matthews are scientist who devote their lives to study the human movement and they are expert in models of motor control. In 1966, they proposed a model describing human movement called "Equilibrium-Point Hypothesis". This model relates force and length of muscles. This hypothesis states that when applying a certain amount of strength to muscle, this is extended in proportion to the force. In this study, we try to verify the hyphotesis.

Aims. Identify elements of equilibrium-point hypothesis and prove this in muscles of different parts of the body, applying different magnitudes of charge to see the length of the muscles and be able to compare with each one.

Methods. Apply charges of 2, 4 and 6 kg. in hands and feet to see the activity of biceps and quadriceps muscles in 20 voluntary males and 20 voluntary females from Santiago of Chile.

Results. In this sample, when the charge applied to the hands and the feet increases, the length of the muscles increases too.

Discussion. In conducting the study, there were problems in determining the lenght of the muscle reliably. Electrodes high-precision were finally used in the muscles of each of the persons.

Conclusion. According to the results, in this sample, there were a direct relation between force and length of muscles, therefore I could say that this hypothesis is right, however studies are still being poor in others and more population to determine that this important hypothesis about human movement is valid.

Physical therapy in sport

People that practise sports of high exigency like basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, etc, frecuently suffer  from many diferent types of lesions such as fractures, sprains, tendinitis, dislocations for example. This causes those people not to be able to continue practising sport.

The physical therapist, most of the time, help people to rehabilitate  throug many diferent excesises based on strengthening of muscle to attain a best performance and a lot of time avoid a surgery.

In my opinion it’s is very important that a good sport person can be adviced by a good physical therapist to help him maintain his body in a good conditions.

ABOUT ME

Hello, my name is Javiera Paz Rosales Fuentes. I’m 18 years old. I live in Santiago with mi family: my mother, my father and my little brother. I studied in Sagrados Corazones school and now I study physical therapy in the University of Chile. My career is very interesting, after five years of study, you can work in many different areas: respiratory, cardiovascular and sports physical therapy for example. I choosed this career because I can help people, and I like the sport area because I play basketball since I was a little girl.