  In this study we reproduced this compression-induced reduction in muscle
force through the use of a three-dimensional finite element model of
contracting muscle. The model used the principle of minimum total energy and
allowed for the redistribution of energy through different strain
energy-densities; this allowed us to determine the importance of the strain
energy-densities to the transverse forces developed by the muscle. Furthermore,
we were able to study how external work done on the muscle by transverse
compression affects the internal work and strain-energy distribution of the
muscle.
