Cooperative behaviour of the elementary sarcomere units and the cross-bridge step size Original Research Article

We present a model of muscle contraction based on purely physical grounds and modulated by a parameter, k, related to the visco-elastic hindrances of the contractile apparatus. The model predicts a strong cooperation among sarcomere units and proposes that viscous hindrance is a fundamental component of the economy of the contraction. The concept of cross-bridge step size is also discussed and it is concluded that the step size is of various and probably undeterminable length.