# ELASTIC/PLASTIC HUMAN JOINT COMPLIANCE

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 1993 · $197,528

## Abstract

This project continues to investigate the role played by the compliant
properties of the neuromuscular system in the control of voluntary
movement as well as in the response of the system to applied
perturbations.  We suggest that these are not separable properties
because many if not most "perturbations" are actually generated by the
interaction forces between different body segments during the performance
of voluntary motor tasks.  This is true, even when in terms of
"intention", a movement involves only one of a few segments.

The limb is viewed as a visco-elastic-inertial system, moving under the
influence of forces originating from neurally controlled muscle
activation, gravity and external perturbation, Neural activation of the
muscles not only generates accelerating forces but also directly alters
the visco-elastic properties of the peripheral neuromuscular apparatus.
This affect on neuromuscular visco-elasticity is caused both by direct
changes to muscle mechanical properties and by complex changes to reflex
excitability.  Our studies over the last nine years and more, have
focused on action about a single joint (the elbow and the ankle).  We
propose here to continue these single-joint studies but to start to
broaden the investigation to multi-joint, planar movements.

Experiments using a diverse set of perturbations of the limb will be
performed.  We will use our knowledge of single-joint behavior, both as
an initial model for multi-joint behavior, and as a behavioral template,
deviations from which can be better discerned.  However, multi-joint
movement is inherently more complex than single-joint movement in its
physical description.  We can expect that the neurological mechanisms
that control it will also be more complex and as a result, we do not
expect that the mechanisms described for single-joint control will be
sufficient for multi-joint control.  However, we do assume that they
provide a useful point of departure for further exploration.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156524
- **Project number:** 2R01AR033189-10
- **Recipient organization:** RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** C155UU2TXCP3
- **Principal Investigator:** GERALD L GOTTLIEB
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $197,528
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1983-12-01 → 1996-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156524

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156524, ELASTIC/PLASTIC HUMAN JOINT COMPLIANCE (2R01AR033189-10). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156524. Licensed CC0.

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