ABSTRACT
Contractions of skeletal muscles generate the stability and power for all movement. Consequently, any impairment in skeletal muscle function results in at least some degree of instability or immobility. Muscle function can be impaired as a result of injury, disease, or old age. The goal of tissue engineering is to restore the structural and functional properties of muscles to permit the greatest recovery of normal movement. Impaired movement at all ages, but particularly in the elderly, increases the risk of severe injury, reduces participation in the activities of daily living, and has an impact on the quality of life.
