A basic law of physics dictates that it costs energy to move. Movement-related energy metabolism can be investigated at different levels, ranging from the genetic level, via the function of the muscle cell, to the whole muscle and the entire human movement system. The goal of the research under the umbrella term “metabolism” is to gain insight into the relations between the release of energy, the consumption of energy, the control of muscles to meet prevailing energy demands, the resulting muscle function, and the whole-body motor performance of healthy subjects and patients.
Efficient conversion of chemical energy into mechanical power is essential during exercise. Furthermore, during ongoing exercise the mechanical and (electro-) physiological muscle properties change as a result of several short-term changes – culminating in local muscle fatigue – that are mainly induced by mismatches between the supply and demand of energy. While parts of these processes suffer from such mismatches, others adapt rapidly so as to preserve function.
Special attention is given to 1) the impact of the variation in properties of different muscles fibre types on control of muscle action, on performance and on muscle fatigue, and 2) the clinical, molecular and (electro) physiological aspects of fatigue in the most frequently occurring neuromuscular and neurometabolic disorders.
The mechanisms of long-term adaptation, as those induced by aging, training, long term reduced activity, spinal cord injury and by neuromuscular and pulmonary diseases also have a prominent place in this theme.
One of the goals of the theme concerns the improvement and extension of the diagnostics of patients suspected to suffer from a neuromuscular disease. A further necessary condition to make basic research useful in a clinical context is the precise documentation (clinimetrics) of patients, in particular when extensive diagnostic information is systematically related to the course of the disease and treatment results.

subprogrammes:

TB1: (Patho-) physiology and mechanics in human performance
TB2: Neuromuscular and neurometabolic disorders
TB3: Respiratory muscle pathology in COPD