Torque in mid-range is produced by which combination of factors?

Torque in mid-range is produced by which combination of factors?

• A. Torque is solely due to passive ligaments
• B. Torque arises from gravity alone
• C. Torque results from a combination of muscle activation and connective tissue properties
• D. Torque is produced only during weightbearing

Answer: (C)

Torque in the mid-range comes from both muscle activation and the passive properties of connective tissues. When a muscle contracts, it generates a voluntary torque around the joint, and this is strongest when the muscle is near its optimal length for force production. At the same time, passive structures—tendons, ligaments, and the joint capsule—store and release elastic energy and oppose or assist movement as they are stretched. The net torque around a joint is the sum of these active and passive contributions. This combination explains why torque in mid-range isn’t explained by muscles alone, nor by gravity or weightbearing alone.

Torque in the mid-range comes from both muscle activation and the passive properties of connective tissues. When a muscle contracts, it generates a voluntary torque around the joint, and this is strongest when the muscle is near its optimal length for force production. At the same time, passive structures—tendons, ligaments, and the joint capsule—store and release elastic energy and oppose or assist movement as they are stretched. The net torque around a joint is the sum of these active and passive contributions. This combination explains why torque in mid-range isn’t explained by muscles alone, nor by gravity or weightbearing alone.