P107 In vivo reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis muscle during human gait

Fascicle length, pennation angle, and tendon elongation of the human tibialis anterior were measured in vivo by ultrasonography. Subjects ( n = 9) were requested to develop isometric dorsiflexion torque gradually up to maximal at the ankle joint angle of 20° plantarflexion from the anatomic position. Fascicle length shortened from 90 ± 7 to 76 ± 7 (SE) mm, pennation angle increased from 10 ± 1 to 12 ± 1°, and tendon elongation increased up to 15 ± 2 mm with graded force development up to maximum. The tendon stiffness increased with increasing tendon force from 10 N/mm at 0–20 N to 32 N/mm at 240–260 N. Young’s modulus increased from 157 MPa at 0–20 N to 530 MPa at 240–260 N. It can be concluded that, in isometric contractions of a human muscle, mechanical work, some of which is absorbed by the tendinous tissue, is generated by the shortening of muscle fibers and that ultrasonography can be used to determine the stiffness and Young’s modulus for human tendons.

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Gastrocnemius Medialis Architectural Properties in Flexibility Trained and Not Trained Child Female Athletes: A Pilot Study

Sports ◽

10.3390/sports8030029 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 29 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ioli Panidi ◽

Gregory C. Bogdanis ◽

Vasiliki Gaspari ◽

Polyxeni Spiliopoulou ◽

Anastasia Donti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Distal Part ◽

Joint Angle ◽

Female Athletes ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Static Stretching ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Gastrocnemius Medialis ◽

Ankle Angle

Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) architecture and ankle angle were compared between flexibility trained (n = 10) and not trained (n = 6) female athletes, aged 8–10 years. Ankle angle, fascicle length, pennation angle and muscle thickness were measured at the mid-belly and the distal part of GM, at rest and at the end of one min of static stretching. Flexibility trained (FT) and not trained athletes (FNT) had similar fascicle length at the medial (4.19 ± 0.37 vs. 4.24 ± 0.54 cm, respectively, p = 0.841) and the distal part of GM (4.25 ± 0.35 vs. 4.18 ± 0.65 cm, respectively, p = 0.780), similar pennation angles, and muscle thickness (p > 0.216), and larger ankle angle at rest (120.9 ± 4.2 vs. 110.9 ± 5.8°, respectively, p = 0.001). During stretching, FT displayed greater fascicle elongation compared to FNT at the medial (+1.67 ± 0.37 vs. +1.28 ± 0.22 cm, respectively, p = 0.048) and the distal part (+1.84 ± 0.67 vs. +0.97 ± 0.97 cm, respectively, p = 0.013), larger change in joint angle and muscle tendon junction displacement (MTJ) (p < 0.001). Muscle thickness was similar in both groups (p > 0.053). Ankle dorsiflexion angle significantly correlated with fascicle elongation at the distal part of GM (r = −0.638, p < 0.01) and MTJ displacement (r = −0.610, p < 0.05). Collectively, FT had greater fascicle elongation at the medial and distal part of GM and greater MTJ displacement during stretching than FNT of similar age.

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Three-dimensional geometrical changes of the human tibialis anterior muscle and its central aponeurosis measured with three-dimensional ultrasound during isometric contractions

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2260 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e2260 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Brent J. Raiteri ◽

Andrew G. Cresswell ◽

Glen A. Lichtwark

Keyword(s):

Three Dimensional ◽

Muscle Length ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Human Muscle ◽

Muscle Fibres ◽

Isometric Contractions ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Shape Changes

Background.Muscles not only shorten during contraction to perform mechanical work, but they also bulge radially because of the isovolumetric constraint on muscle fibres. Muscle bulging may have important implications for muscle performance, however quantifying three-dimensional (3D) muscle shape changes in human muscle is problematic because of difficulties with sustaining contractions for the duration of anin vivoscan. Although two-dimensional ultrasound imaging is useful for measuring local muscle deformations, assumptions must be made about global muscle shape changes, which could lead to errors in fully understanding the mechanical behaviour of muscle and its surrounding connective tissues, such as aponeurosis. Therefore, the aims of this investigation were (a) to determine the intra-session reliability of a novel 3D ultrasound (3DUS) imaging method for measuringin vivohuman muscle and aponeurosis deformations and (b) to examine how contraction intensity influencesin vivohuman muscle and aponeurosis strains during isometric contractions.Methods.Participants (n= 12) were seated in a reclined position with their left knee extended and ankle at 90° and performed isometric dorsiflexion contractions up to 50% of maximal voluntary contraction. 3DUS scans of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle belly were performed during the contractions and at rest to assess muscle volume, muscle length, muscle cross-sectional area, muscle thickness and width, fascicle length and pennation angle, and central aponeurosis width and length. The 3DUS scan involved synchronous B-mode ultrasound imaging and 3D motion capture of the position and orientation of the ultrasound transducer, while successive cross-sectional slices were captured by sweeping the transducer along the muscle.Results.3DUS was shown to be highly reliable across measures of muscle volume, muscle length, fascicle length and central aponeurosis length (ICC ≥ 0.98, CV < 1%). The TA remained isovolumetric across contraction conditions and progressively shortened along its line of action as contraction intensity increased. This caused the muscle to bulge centrally, predominantly in thickness, while muscle fascicles shortened and pennation angle increased as a function of contraction intensity. This resulted in central aponeurosis strains in both the transverse and longitudinal directions increasing with contraction intensity.Discussion.3DUS is a reliable and viable method for quantifying multidirectional muscle and aponeurosis strains during isometric contractions within the same session. Contracting muscle fibres do work in directions along and orthogonal to the muscle’s line of action and central aponeurosis length and width appear to be a function of muscle fascicle shortening and transverse expansion of the muscle fibres, which is dependent on contraction intensity. How factors other than muscle force change the elastic mechanical behaviour of the aponeurosis requires further investigation.

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In vivo intramuscular fascicle-aponeuroses dynamics of the human medial gastrocnemius during plantarflexion and dorsiflexion of the foot

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.91598.2008 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 107 (4) ◽

pp. 1276-1284 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

David D. Shin ◽

John A. Hodgson ◽

V. Reggie Edgerton ◽

Shantanu Sinha

Keyword(s):

Gastrocnemius Muscle ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

High Stress ◽

Proximal Region ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Stress Concentrations ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle

Velocity-encoded phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques and a computer-controlled MR-compatible foot pedal device were used to investigate the medial gastrocnemius muscle and aponeurosis deformations during passive and active eccentric movements of the plantarflexors. Intrafascicular strain, measured as the ratio of strain in the fascicle segment at its insertion to strain at its origin, was nonuniform along the proximodistal axis of the muscle ( P < 0.01), progressively increasing from the proximal to distal direction. The high intrafascicular strain regions appeared to correlate with the muscle regions that are likely to encounter high stress concentrations, i.e., the regions where the muscle physiological cross section decreases close to the tendons. The architectural gear ratio, i.e., the mechanical amplification ratio of fascicle length displacement to that of tendon/aponeuroses in a pennate muscle, also exhibited significant regional differences, with the highest ratios in the proximal region of the muscle accompanied by a higher initial pennation angle and a larger range of fascicular rotation about the origin. Values close to unity in the distal region of the muscle suggest that the aponeurosis separation may decrease in this region. Fascicle length and pennation angle changes were significantly influenced by force generation in the muscle, probably due to a shortening of the loaded muscle fibers relative to a passive condition. Overall, our data illustrate significant proximodistal intramuscular heterogeneity as supported by a regionally variable end-to-end strain ratio of fascicles and angle changes in the medial gastrocnemius muscle during passive and active ankle movements. These observations emphasize the need to reassess current conceptual models of muscle-tendon mechanics.

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In vivo determination of fascicle curvature in contracting human skeletal muscles

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.2002.92.1.129 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 92 (1) ◽

pp. 129-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 73

Author(s):

Tadashi Muramatsu ◽

Tetsuro Muraoka ◽

Yasuo Kawakami ◽

Akira Shibayama ◽

Tetsuo Fukunaga

Keyword(s):

Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽

Muscle Length ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Voluntary Contraction ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Fascicle Curvature

Fascicle curvature of human medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG) was determined in vivo by ultrasonography during isometric contractions at three (distal, central, and proximal) locations ( n = 7) and at three ankle angles ( n = 7). The curvature significantly ( P < 0.05) increased from rest to maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) (0.4–5.2 m−1). In addition, the curvature at MVC became larger in the order dorsiflexed, neutral, plantar flexed ( P < 0.05). Thus both contraction levels and muscle length affected the curvature. Intramuscular differences in neither the curvature nor the fascicle length were found. The direction of curving was consistent along the muscle: fascicles were concave in the proximal side. Fascicle length estimated from the pennation angle and muscle thickness, under the assumption that the fascicle was straight, was underestimated by ∼6%. In addition, the curvature was significantly correlated to pennation angle and muscle thickness. These findings are particularly important for understanding the mechanical functions of human skeletal muscle in vivo.

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Sprint performance is related to muscle fascicle length in male 100-m sprinters

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.2000.88.3.811 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 88 (3) ◽

pp. 811-816 ◽

Cited By ~ 177

Author(s):

Kenya Kumagai ◽

Takashi Abe ◽

William F. Brechue ◽

Tomoo Ryushi ◽

Susumu Takano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Leg Length ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Gastrocnemius Medialis ◽

Muscle Fascicle ◽

Lateralis Muscle ◽

The Relationship ◽

Gastrocnemius Lateralis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle fascicle length and sprint running performance in 37 male 100-m sprinters. The sample was divided into two performance groups by the personal-best 100-m time: 10.00–10.90 s (S10; n = 22) and 11.00–11.70 s (S11; n = 15). Muscle thickness and fascicle pennation angle of the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis muscles were measured by B-mode ultrasonography, and fascicle length was estimated. Standing height, body weight, and leg length were similar between groups. Muscle thickness was similar between groups for vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis, but S10 had a significantly greater gastrocnemius lateralis muscle thickness. S10 also had a greater muscle thickness in the upper portion of the thigh, which, given similar limb lengths, demonstrates an altered “muscle shape.” Pennation angle was always less in S10 than in S11. In all muscles, S10 had significantly greater fascicle length than did S11, which significantly correlated with 100-m best performance ( rvalues from −0.40 to −0.57). It is concluded that longer fascicle length is associated with greater sprinting performance.

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Behavior of human muscle fascicles during shortening and lengthening contractions in vivo

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.01046.2002 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 1090-1096 ◽

Cited By ~ 136

Author(s):

Neil D. Reeves ◽

Marco V. Narici

Keyword(s):

Ankle Joint ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Human Muscle ◽

Elastic Component ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Series Elastic Component ◽

Muscle Fascicles ◽

Muscle Actions ◽

Series Elastic

The aim of the present study was to investigate the behavior of human muscle fascicles during dynamic contractions. Eight subjects performed maximal isometric dorsiflexion contractions at six ankle joint angles and maximal isokinetic concentric and eccentric contractions at five angular velocities. Tibialis anterior muscle architecture was measured in vivo by use of B-mode ultrasonography. During maximal isometric contraction, fascicle length was shorter and pennation angle larger compared with values at rest ( P < 0.01). During isokinetic concentric contractions from 0 to 4.36 rad/s, fascicle length measured at a constant ankle joint angle increased curvilinearly from 49.5 to 69.7 mm (41%; P < 0.01), whereas pennation angle decreased curvilinearly from 14.8 to 9.8° (34%; P < 0.01). During eccentric muscle actions, fascicles contracted quasi-isometrically, independent of angular velocity. The behavior of muscle fascicles during shortening contractions was believed to reflect the degree of stretch applied to the series elastic component, which decreases with increasing contraction velocity. The quasi-isometric behavior of fascicles during eccentric muscle actions suggests that the series elastic component acts as a mechanical buffer during active lengthening.

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In vivo Measurement of Fascicle Length and Pennation Angle of the Human Biceps femoris Muscle

Cells Tissues Organs ◽

10.1159/000047908 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 169 (4) ◽

pp. 401-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 93

Author(s):

Gary S. Chleboun ◽

Antoinette R. France ◽

Matthew T. Crill ◽

Holly K. Braddock ◽

John N. Howell

Keyword(s):

Biceps Femoris ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Biceps Femoris Muscle ◽

In Vivo Measurement ◽

Femoris Muscle

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Force Enhancement of Quadriceps Femoris in Vivo and Its Dependence on Stretch-Induced Muscle Architectural Changes

Journal of Applied Biomechanics ◽

10.1123/jab.26.3.256 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 256-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Wolfgang Seiberl ◽

Daniel Hahn ◽

Florian Kreuzpointner ◽

Ansgar Schwirtz ◽

Uwe Gastmann

Keyword(s):

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Muscle Architecture ◽

Knee Angle ◽

Force Enhancement ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Induced Changes

The purpose of this study was to investigate if force enhancement (FE) in vivo is influenced by stretch-induced changes of muscle architecture. Therefore, 18 subjects performed maximum voluntary isometric (100° knee flexion angle) and isometric-eccentric-isometric stretch contractions (80°–100° ω = 60°s−1) whereby pennation angle and fascicle length of vastus lateralis was determined using ultrasonography. We found significant (2-way repeated ANOVA; α = 0.05) enhanced torque of 5–10% after stretch as well as significant passive FE but no significant differences in muscle architecture between isometric and stretch contractions at final knee angle. Furthermore, EMG recordings during a follow-up study (n= 10) did not show significant differences in activation and mean frequency of contraction conditions. These results indicate that FE in vivo is not influenced by muscle architectural changes due to stretch.

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