Does epimuscular myofascial force transmission occur between the human quadriceps muscles in vivo during passive stretching?

2019 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 91-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandro R. Freitas ◽  
André Antunes ◽  
Pierre Salmon ◽  
Bruno Mendes ◽  
Telmo Firmino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Force Transmission ◽  
Myofascial Force Transmission ◽  
Passive Stretching

scholarly journals Fascial or Muscle Stretching? A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Carla Stecco ◽  
Carmelo Pirri ◽  
Caterina Fede ◽  
Can A. Yucesoy ◽  
Raffaele De Caro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscular Contraction ◽  
Deep Fascia ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Force Transmission ◽  
Myofascial Force Transmission ◽  
Biomechanical Behavior ◽  
Passive Stretching ◽  
Muscle Stretching ◽  
Major Target ◽  
Stretching Exercises

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.

Implications of Muscle Relative Position as a Co-Determinant of Isometric Muscle Force

2003 ◽  
Vol 03 (02) ◽  
pp. 145-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huub Maas ◽  
Can A. Yucesoy ◽  
Guus C. Baan ◽  
Peter A. Huijing
Keyword(s):  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Relative Position ◽  
Muscle Force ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Force Transmission ◽  
Position Effects ◽  
Myofascial Force Transmission ◽  
Isometric Muscle ◽  
Isometric Muscle Force

Force is transmitted from muscle fiber to bone via several pathways: (1) via the tendons (i.e. myotendinous force transmission), (2) via intermuscular connective tissue to adjacent muscles (i.e. intermuscular myofascial force transmission), (3) via structures other than muscles (i.e. extramuscular myofascial force transmission). In vivo, the position of a muscle relative to adjacent muscles changes due to differences in moment arm between synergists as well as due to the fact that some muscles span only one joint and other muscles more than one joint. The position of a muscle relative to non-muscular structures within a compartment is altered with each change of the length of the muscle. The aim of this article is to describe recent experimental results, as well as some new experimental data, that have elucidated the role of muscle relative position on force transmission from muscle. Furthermore, relevant literature is discussed, taking into consideration these new insights of muscle functioning. It is concluded that the position of a muscle relative to surrounding tissues is a major co-determinant of isometric muscle force. For muscles operating within their in vivo context of connective tissue, such position effects should be taken into account.

scholarly journals Myofascial force transmission in the lower limb: An in vivo experiment

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 55-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hellen Veloso Rocha Marinho ◽  
Giovanna Mendes Amaral ◽  
Bruno Souza Moreira ◽  
Thiago Ribeiro Teles Santos ◽  
Fabrício Anicio Magalhães ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Force Transmission ◽  
In Vivo Experiment ◽  
Myofascial Force Transmission

scholarly journals Not merely a protective packing organ? A review of fascia and its force transmission capacity

2018 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 234-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Wilke ◽  
Robert Schleip ◽  
Can A. Yucesoy ◽  
Winfried Banzer
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Biomechanical Properties ◽  
Force Transmission ◽  
Locomotor System ◽  
Myofascial Force Transmission ◽  
Transmitted Force ◽  
Muscle Fascia ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Recent research indicates that fascia is capable of changing its biomechanical properties. Moreover, as it links the skeletal muscles, forming a body-wide network of multidirectional myofascial continuity, the classical conception of muscles as independent actuators has been challenged. Hence, the present synthesis review aims to characterize the mechanical relevance of the connective tissue for the locomotor system. Results of cadaveric and animal studies suggest a clinically relevant myofascial force transmission to neighboring structures within one limb (e.g., between synergists) and in the course of muscle-fascia chains (e.g., between leg and trunk). Initial in vivo trials appear to underpin these findings, demonstrating the existence of nonlocal exercise effects. However, the factors influencing the amount of transmitted force (e.g., age and physical activity) remain controversial, as well as the role of the central nervous system within the context of the observed remote exercise effects.

scholarly journals Myofascial Force Transmission in the Humans: A Systematic Scoping Review of In-Vivo Studies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.S. Ajimsha ◽  
Praveen Surendran ◽  
Prasobh Jacob ◽  
Pramod Shenoy ◽  
Mohammed Bilal
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Force Transmission ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Myofascial Force Transmission ◽  
Force Transfer ◽  
Musculoskeletal Function ◽  
Based Medicine

Background: The fascial system provides an environment that enables all body systems to operate in an integrated manner and is capable of modifying its tensional state in response to the stress applied to it. Recent in vitro, animal and cadaveric studies have shown that “myofascial force transfer” (MFT) has the potential to play a major role in musculoskeletal function and dysfunction.Objective: Human evidence for the existence of invivo MFT is scarce. This scoping review attempts to gather and analyse the available evidence of the in-vivo human MFT studies in order to sustain and facilitate further research and evidence based practice in this field.Methods: A search of most major databases was conducted with relevant keywords that yielded 238 articles as of August 2020. A qualitative analysis of the studies was conducted after rating it with Oxford’s Center for Evidence –based Medicine (CEBM) scale.Result: Nineteen studies ranging from randomized controlled trials to case studies covering 540 patients were included in this review. The analysed studies were highly heterogeneous and of lower methodological quality meddling with the quantitative analysis. Ten studies are confirming a ‘most likely’ existence of MFT, eight studies confirming it as ‘likely’ and one study couldn’t confirm any MFT existence in this review.Conclusion: Findings from in vivo human studies supports the animal and cadaveric studies claiming the existence of MFT which need to be corroborated by the future high quality studies. Forthcoming studies on MFT may give answers and solutions to many of the human musculoskeletal mysteries or dysfunctions.

BTX-A Administration to the Target Muscle Affects Forces of All Muscles Within an Intact Compartment and Epimuscular Myofascial Force Transmission

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Can A. Yucesoy ◽  
Önder Emre Arıkan ◽  
Filiz Ateş
Keyword(s):  
Botulinum Toxin Type A ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Muscle Length ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Botulinum Toxin Type ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Force Transmission ◽  
Myofascial Force Transmission ◽  
Intact Muscle

Measurement of forces of mono- and bi-articular muscles of an entire intact muscle compartment can allow for a comprehensive assessment of the effects of Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) both at and beyond the injection site, and in conditions close to those in vivo. The goal was to test the hypotheses that BTX-A affects (1) the forces of not only the injected but also the noninjected muscles of the compartment, and (2) epimuscular myofascial force transmission (EMFT). Two groups of Wistar rats were tested: Control (no BTX-A injected) and BTX (0.1 units of BTX-A were injected exclusively to the mid-belly of TA). Isometric forces were measured simultaneously at the distal tendons of the tibialis anterior (TA) at different lengths, the restrained extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) muscles and at the proximal tendon of EDL. Five days post-injection, BTX-A did affect the total forces of all muscles significantly: (1) The TA force decreased differentially (by 46.6%–55.9%) for most lengths such that a significant negative correlation was found between force reductions and increased muscle length. The maximum TA force decreased by 47.3%. However, the muscle’s length range of force production did not change significantly. (2) Distal and proximal EDL forces decreased (on average by 67.8% and 62.9%, respectively). (3) The EHL force also decreased (on average by 9.2%). The passive forces of only the TA showed a significant increase at higher lengths. EMFT effects were shown for the control group: (1) at the shortest TA lengths, the EDL proximo-distal force differences were in favor of the distal force, which was reversed at higher lengths. (2) the EHL force measured at the shortest TA length decreased (by 34%) as a function of TA lengthening. After BTX-A exposure, such EMFT effects disappeared for the EDL, whereas they remained as profound for the EHL. Exposure to BTX-A does affect forces of all muscles operating in an intact compartment. For the BTX-A injected muscle, the reduction in muscle force becomes less pronounced at higher muscle lengths. BTX-A also has effects on EMFT, however, these effects are not uniform within the anterior crural compartment. Decreased forces of the noninjected synergistic muscles suggest the presence of unintended additional effects of BTX-A both for the targeted distal joint and for the nontargeted proximal joint.

Myofascial force transmission: muscle relative position and length determine agonist and synergist muscle force

2003 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 1092-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A. Huijing ◽  
Guus C. Baan
Keyword(s):  
Relative Position ◽  
Tibialis Anterior ◽  
Muscle Force ◽  
Force Transmission ◽  
Connective Tissues ◽  
Constant Length ◽  
Myofascial Force Transmission ◽  
Extensor Hallucis Longus ◽  
Force Difference

Equal proximal and distal lengthening of rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) were studied. Tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and EDL were active maximally. The connective tissues around these muscle bellies were left intact. Proximal EDL forces differed from distal forces, indicating myofascial force transmission to structures other than the tendons. Higher EDL distal force was exerted (ratio ≈118%) after distal than after equal proximal lengthening. For proximal force, the reverse occurred (ratio ≈157%). Passive EDL force exerted at the lengthened end was 7–10 times the force exerted at the nonlengthened end. While kept at constant length, synergists (tibialis anterior + extensor hallucis longus: active muscle force difference ≈ −10%) significantly decreased in force by distal EDL lengthening, but not by proximal EDL lengthening. We conclude that force exerted at the tendon at the lengthened end of a muscle is higher because of the extra load imposed by myofascial force transmission on parts of the muscle belly. This is mediated by changes of the relative position of most parts of the lengthened muscle with respect to neighboring muscles and to compartment connective tissues. As a consequence, muscle relative position is a major codeterminant of muscle force for muscle with connectivity of its belly close to in vivo conditions.

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