THE GENERAL DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM - A PHYSIOLOGICAL SOLUTION WHICH INCLUDES ANTAGONISM

A physiological control model for partitioning resultant elbow moments into their constituent muscular forces is described. Control equations based on experimental data predict forces in a more diverse manner than would any one cost function using more traditional optimization approaches. The model demonstrates the importance of including antagonist musculature in the solution of this general distribution problem. These antagonist force predictions refine our ability to describe muscle function at a joint and allow more realistic estimation of joint contact forces. The discussion includes consideration of multifunctional muscles and alternate strategies for using the control model under different control schemes.