Combined biochemical and mechanical experiments; muscle mechanics I intact single muscle fibres; muscle mechanics II skinned muscle fibres; the use of caged compounds; the use of fluorescent nucleotides; the use of peptide mimetics; the use of recombinant molecules; invitro motility assay; combined structural and mechanical experiments; the use of fluorescent probes; the use of spin probes; time resolved Xray diffraction; electron microscopy coupled with quick freezing; the use of Ca2+ indicators; electrophysiological techniques; techniques for muscle energetics.