Negligible epimuscular myofascial force transmission between the human rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles in passive conditions

Author(s):  
Martin E. Héroux ◽  
Rachelle M. Whitaker ◽  
Huub Maas ◽  
Robert D. Herbert
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Carla Stecco ◽  
Carmelo Pirri ◽  
Caterina Fede ◽  
Can A. Yucesoy ◽  
Raffaele De Caro ◽  
...  

Stretching exercises are integral part of the rehabilitation and sport. Despite this, the mechanism behind its proposed effect remains ambiguous. It is assumed that flexibility increases, e.g., action on muscle and tendon, respectively, but this is not always present in the stretching protocol of the exercises used. Recently, the fasciae have increased popularity and seems that they can have a role to define the flexibility and the perception of the limitation of the maximal range of motion (ROM). Deep fascia is also considered a key element to transmit load in parallel bypassing the joints, transmitting around 30% of the force generated during a muscular contraction. So, it seems impossible dividing the action of the muscles from the fasciae, but they have to be considered as a “myofascial unit”. The purpose of this manuscript is to evaluate the mechanical behavior of muscles, tendons, and fasciae to better understand how they can interact during passive stretching. Stress-strain values of muscle, tendon and fascia demonstrate that during passive stretching, the fascia is the first tissue that limit the elongation, suggesting that fascial tissue is probably the major target of static stretching. A better understanding of myofascial force transmission, and the study of the biomechanical behavior of fasciae, with also the thixotropic effect, can help to design a correct plan of stretching.


2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 2070-2074 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Trappe ◽  
D. M. Lindquist ◽  
J. A. Carrithers

We examined the size of the four muscles of the quadriceps femoris in young and old men and women to assess whether the vastus lateralis is an appropriate surrogate for the quadriceps femoris in human studies of aging skeletal muscle. Ten young (24 ± 2 yr) and ten old (79 ± 7 yr) sedentary individuals underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the quadriceps femoris after 60 min of supine rest. Volume (cm3) and average cross-sectional area (CSA, cm2) of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus intermedius (VI), vastus medialis (VM), and the total quadriceps femoris were decreased ( P < 0.05) in older compared with younger women and men. However, percentage of the total quadriceps femoris taken up by each muscle was similar ( P > 0.05) between young and old (RF: 10 ± 0.3 vs. 11 ± 0.4; VL: 33 ± 1 vs. 33 ± 1; VI: 31 ± 1 vs. 31 ± 0.4; VM: 26 ± 1 vs. 25 ± 1%). These results suggest that each of the four muscles of the quadriceps femoris atrophy similarly in aging men and women. Our data support the use of vastus lateralis tissue to represent the quadriceps femoris muscle in aging research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 827-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommy R. Lundberg ◽  
Maria T. García-Gutiérrez ◽  
Mirko Mandić ◽  
Mats Lilja ◽  
Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalo

This study compared the effects of the most frequently employed protocols of flywheel (FW) versus weight-stack (WS) resistance exercise (RE) on regional and muscle-specific adaptations of the knee extensors. Sixteen men (n = 8) and women (n = 8) performed 8 weeks (2–3 days/week) of knee extension RE employing FW technology on 1 leg (4 × 7 repetitions), while the contralateral leg performed regular WS training (4 × 8–12 repetitions). Maximal strength (1-repetition maximum (1RM) in WS) and peak FW power were determined before and after training for both legs. Partial muscle volume of vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), vastus intermedius (VI), and rectus femoris (RF) were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, quadriceps cross-sectional area was assessed at a proximal and a distal site. There were no differences (P > 0.05) between FW versus WS in muscle hypertrophy of the quadriceps femoris (8% vs. 9%), VL (10% vs. 11%), VM (6% vs. 8%), VI (5% vs. 5%), or RF (17% vs. 17%). Muscle hypertrophy tended (P = 0.09) to be greater at the distal compared with the proximal site, but there was no interaction with exercise method. Increases in 1RM and FW peak power were similar across legs, yet the increase in 1RM was greater in men (31%) than in women (20%). These findings suggest that FW and WS training induces comparable muscle-specific hypertrophy of the knee extensors. Given that these robust muscular adaptations were brought about with markedly fewer repetitions in the FW compared with WS, it seems FW training can be recommended as a particularly time-efficient exercise paradigm.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Lu Zongxing ◽  
You Shengxian ◽  
Wei Xiangwen ◽  
Chen Xiaohui ◽  
Jia Chao

Background. Many sports and physical activities can result in lower limb injures. Pedaling is an effective exercise for lower extremity rehabilitation, but incorrect technique may cause further damage. To some extent, previous experiments have been susceptible to bias in the sample recruited for the study. Alternatively, methods used to simulation activities can enable parametric studies without the influence of noise. In addition, models can facilitate the study of all muscles in the absence of the effects of fatigue. This study investigated the effects of crank length on muscle behavior during pedaling. Methods. Six muscles (soleus, tibialis anterior, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, gastrocnemius, and rectus femoris), divided into three groups (ankle muscle group, knee muscle group, and biarticular muscle group), were examined under three cycling crank lengths (100 mm, 125 mm, and 150 mm) in the present study. In addition, the relationship between crank length and muscle biological force was analyzed with the AnyBody Modeling System™, a human simulation modeling software based on the Hill-type model. Findings. Based on inverse kinematic analysis, the results indicate that muscle activity and muscle force decrease in varying degrees with increases in crank length. The maximum and minimum muscular forces were attained in the tibialis anterior and vastus lateralis, respectively. Interpretation. Studying the relationship between muscle and joint behavior with crank length can help rehabilitation and treating joint disorders. This study provides the pedal length distribution areas for patients in the early stages of rehabilitation.


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