Towards modelling skeletal muscle growth and adaptation

Abstract

Despite an increasing interest in modelling skeletal muscles adaptation, models that address the phenomena within a continuum‐mechanical framework using muscle‐specific material models are rare in literature. This work focuses on modelling one form of skeletal musle adaptation, namely sarcomerogenesis. Sarcomerogenesis occurs when a given stretch is sustained over a period of time and the number of basic contractile units, which are the sarcomeres, increase.To model sarcomerogenesis within a continuum‐mechanical setting, the growth framework based on a multiplicative split of the total deformation gradient is employed. An evolution equation that describes sarcomerogenesis is used and incorporated in a transversally isotropic material model that accounts for a skeletal muscle's active force production capabilities. The material tangent modulus is derived and implemented within the finite‐element analysis software. Using this model, one sees that increased number of sarcomeres results in a decreased force response of the muscle tissue over time. (© 2016 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)