A mechanical model representation of the in vivo creep behaviour of muscular bulk tissue

In vivo mechanical properties of bulk tissue have not yet been explored sufficiently. One of the major problems researchers face is the lack of agreement between the constitutive models and the standardised methodologies for experimental studies. The object of this study was to obtain bulk modulus of the upper arm under relaxed and controlled contraction that was 25% of the maximum voluntary contraction. A new testing machine was designed to generate constant load on the upper arm and measure the deformation over time. This device is effectively a cuff that applies controllable pressure on a 47-mm wide band of the upper arm. Six different loads (10, 20, 30, 40,50 and 60 kgf) were applied over a time of up to a maximum of 120s. The deflection-time curves obtained show strongly non-linear responses of the bulk tissue. The non-linearity manifested by these deflection-time curves is in terms of both time- and load-dependency. A specific mechanical model was developed to represent the creep behaviour of the bulk tissue. The creep behaviour of the upper arm can be simulated by using four Voigt viscoelastic models in series. The three obvious soft tissues of the upper arm, namely skin, fat and muscle, were modelled in series. The effects of blood vessels and connective tissue were also modelled in series with the previous ones. A mechanical model would provide a more controlled method of studying the mechanical properties of the bulk tissue. The purpose of the current research, therefore, was to develop a mechanical model, which would predict the non-linear, viscoelastic behaviour of the human muscular bulk tissue. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.