fused tetanus

Fused tetanus is a physiological response in skeletal muscles where continuous stimulation leads to a sustained, maximal contraction. This occurs when muscle fibers are stimulated at a high enough frequency that individual twitches merge, creating a smooth, constant tension. This is distinct from unfused tetanus, where stimulation is less frequent, resulting in a pulsating tension. Fused tetanus generates significantly more force than a single twitch, typically 1.2 to 1.8 times greater, because the sustained activity allows the muscle's elastic components to be fully stretched, maximizing force transmission. This process is crucial for powerful and sustained movements.1