Control implications of musculoskeletal mechanics

Motor control involves the interaction of three very different subsystems: the sensors and actuators of the musculoskeletal system, the programmable regulator of the spinal cord, and the adaptive controller of the brain. All have complex and highly evolved properties that facilitate their cooperation for the successful completion of a wide range of motor tasks by a particular organism. In order to understand the behavior of the complete system, it is necessary to have accurate models of the properties of each and of the nature of their interactions. Acquiring experimental data is tedious, unfortunately, and knowing whether it is sufficient in its scope and accuracy requires experience with the emergent behavior of the complete system and its sensitivity to particular parameters of the subsystems. The problem has been complicated by the methodological chasms between biomechanicians, neurophysiologists, and kinesiologists. This paper describes an approach to bridging these subsystems and disciplines