scholarly journals Anatomical and ontogenetic influences on muscle density

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn C. Leonard ◽  
Nikole Worden ◽  
Marissa L. Boettcher ◽  
Edwin Dickinson ◽  
Kailey M. Omstead ◽  
...  

AbstractPhysiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), an important biomechanical variable, is an estimate of a muscle’s contractile force potential and is derived from dividing muscle mass by the product of a muscle’s average fascicle length and a theoretical constant representing the density of mammalian skeletal muscle. This density constant is usually taken from experimental studies of small samples of several model taxa using tissues collected predominantly from the lower limbs of adult animals. The generalized application of this constant to broader analyses of mammalian myology assumes that muscle density (1) is consistent across anatomical regions and (2) is unaffected by the aging process. To investigate the validity of these assumptions, we studied muscles of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the largest sample heretofore investigated explicitly for these variables, and we did so from numerous anatomical regions and from three different age-cohorts. Differences in muscle density and histology as a consequence of age and anatomical region were evaluated using Tukey’s HSD tests. Overall, we observed that older individuals tend to have denser muscles than younger individuals. Our findings also demonstrated significant differences in muscle density between anatomic regions within the older cohorts, though none in the youngest cohort. Approximately 50% of the variation in muscle density can be explained histologically by the average muscle fiber area and the average percent fiber area. That is, muscles with larger average fiber areas and a higher proportion of fiber area tend to be denser. Importantly, using the age and region dependent measurements of muscle density that we provide may increase the accuracy of PCSA estimations. Although we found statistically significant differences related to ontogeny and anatomical region, if density cannot be measured directly, the specific values presented herein should be used to improve accuracy. If a single muscle density constant that has been better validated than the ones presented in the previous literature is preferred, then 1.0558 and 1.0502 g/cm3 would be reasonable constants to use across all adult and juvenile muscles respectively.

Life ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Tereza Jandova ◽  
Marco Narici ◽  
Michal Steffl ◽  
Danilo Bondi ◽  
Moreno D’Amico ◽  
...  

Loss of muscle mass of the lower limbs and of the spine extensors markedly impairs locomotor ability and spine stability in old age. In this study, we investigated whether 8 w of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) improves size and architecture of the lumbar multifidus (LM) and vastus lateralis (VL) along with locomotor ability in healthy older individuals. Eight volunteers (aged 65 ≥ years) performed NMES 3 times/week. Eight sex- and age-matched individuals served as controls. Functional tests (Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST)), VL muscle architecture (muscle thickness (MT), pennation angle (PA), and fiber length (FL)), along with VL cross-sectional area (CSA) and both sides of LM were measured before and after by ultrasound. By the end of the training period, MT and CSA of VL increased by 8.6% and 11.4%, respectively. No significant increases were observed in FL and PA. LM CSA increased by 5.6% (left) and 7.1% (right). Interestingly, all VL architectural parameters significantly decreased in the control group. The combined NMES had a large significant effect on TUG (r = 0.50, p = 0.046). These results extend previous findings on the hypertrophic effects of NMES training, suggesting to be a useful mean for combating age-related sarcopenia.


Author(s):  
Andresa Araujo ◽  
Ricardo Hugo Gonçalez ◽  
Pedro Olavo de Paula Lima ◽  
Bianca Martins Lourenço

Introdução: Valores anormais de aptidão física predispõem o organismo ao aparecimento de diversas doenças crônico-degenerativas.Objetivo: Examinar a associação de modalidade esportiva com aptidão física e descrever ambas segundo sexo, em crianças e adolescentes participantes de um projeto esportivo da Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC).Métodos: Estudo observacional transversal, com amostra por conveniência, do qual participaram 240 crianças e adolescentes com idades entre 7 e 16 anos de idade. Para colher as informações de saúde, medidas antropométricas e quanto à modalidade esportiva utilizaram-se questionários. Para avaliar a aptidão física foram aplicados testes de agilidade, flexibilidade e força. Foram utilizadas estatísticas descritivas: frequências, médias e desvios padrão. Para examinar diferenças em aptidão física e variáveis biológicas (idade, peso, estatura) entre meninos e meninas, utilizou-se o teste t de Student para amostras independentes. Para avaliar diferenças entre modalidades praticadas, também segundo sexo, utilizou-se o teste do c2. Para examinar diferenças em aptidão física segundo modalidade esportiva e segundo variáveis biológicas, utilizou-se a ANOVA one-way com post-hoc de Bonferroni. O nível de significância para todas as análises foi de 95%.Resultados: A aptidão física dessa população pode ser considerada insatisfatória. Resistência cardiorrespiratória obteve padrão muito fraco e circunferência abdominal apresentou-se fora do valor de normalidade para parte da amostra do sexo masculino. Flexibilidade de membros inferiores e coluna para ambos os sexos e força de membros inferiores e superiores no sexo masculino demonstraram valores classificados como razoável. A maior parte dos escolares praticavam natação e os que apresentavam maior peso, estatura e envergadura foram observados nos treinos de futebol e futsal (p<0,001).Conclusão: De modo geral, a aptidão física dos escolares apresentou-se em valores que a classificaram como insatisfatória. Flexibilidade, força de membros inferiores e superiores e Índice de Massa Corporal demonstraram valores aceitáveis de normalidade. Os resultados do presente estudo indicam a necessidade de uma intervenção para que as atividades físicas extraescolares tenham efeito sobre a aptidão física das crianças e adolescentes a fim de favorecer o desenvolvimento e promover a saúde. Nesse sentido, outros estudos de caráter experimental longitudinal devem ser conduzidos.Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents Sportists: a Cross-Sectional StudyIntroduction: Abnormal values of physical fitness predisposes the organism to the appearance of several chronic-degenerative diseases.Objective: To examine the association of sports practice with physical fitness in children and adolescents participating in a sports project of the Federal University of Ceará (FUC).Methods: This was a cross-sectional and observational study conducted in a convenience sample of children and adolescents (n=240) aged between 7 and 16 years. Questionnaires were used to collect health information and to register anthropometric measures and sporting modality. To assess physical fitness, tests of agility, flexibility and strength were applied. Descriptive statistics were used: frequencies, means and standard deviations. To examine differences in physical fitness and biological variables (age, weight, height) between boys and girls, Student's independent t-test was used. To evaluate differences between practiced modalities, also according to sex, the c2 test was used. To examine differences in physical fitness according to sport modality and according to biological variables, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc was used. The level of significance for all analyzes was 95%.Conclusion: In general, the physical fitness of schoolchildren presented values classified as unsatisfactory. Flexibility, strength of lower limbs and upper limbs and Body Mass Index showed acceptable values. The results of the present study indicate the need for intervention so that extracurricular physical activities have an effect on physical fitness of children and adolescents aiming to favor their development and to promote health. In this sense, other longitudinal experimental studies should be conducted. 


Author(s):  
Connie K. Porcaro ◽  
Clare Singer ◽  
Boris Djokic ◽  
Ali A. Danesh ◽  
Ruth Tappen ◽  
...  

Purpose Many aging individuals, even those who are healthy, report voice changes that can impact their ability to communicate as they once did. While this is commonly reported, most do not seek evaluation or management for this issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and differences in voice disorders in older adults, along with the effect of fatigue on their social interactions. Method This is a cross-sectional investigation of a community-dwelling sample of individuals aged 60 years or older. Participants completed the Questionnaire on Vocal Performance, the Social Engagement Index subset “Engagement in Social or Leisure Activities,” and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Results Results indicated 32.5% of the 332 participants reported symptoms of voice problems with no difference found between male and female respondents. A slight increase in report of voice problems was noted with each year of age. Participants who self-reported voice problems indicated less interaction in social activities involving communication than those who did not. Finally, as severity of self-reported voice problems increased, an increase was reported by the same individuals for signs of fatigue. Conclusions Voice problems and resulting decreased social interaction are commonly experienced by older individuals. Voice symptoms in older adults have been found to benefit from evidence-based treatment strategies. It is critical to provide education to encourage older individuals to seek appropriate evaluation and management for voice issues through a speech-language pathologist or medical professional.


2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
D. A. Golentsov ◽  
A. G. Gulin ◽  
Vladimir A. Likhter ◽  
K. E. Ulybyshev

Destruction of bodies is accompanied by formation of both large and microscopic fragments. Numerous experiments on the rupture of different samples show that those fragments carry a positive electric charge. his phenomenon is of interest from the viewpoint of its potential application to contactless diagnostics of the early stage of destruction of the elements in various technical devices. However, the lack of understanding the nature of this phenomenon restricts the possibility of its practical applications. Experimental studies were carried out using an apparatus that allowed direct measurements of the total charge of the microparticles formed upon sample rupture and determination of their size and quantity. The results of rupture tests of duralumin and electrical steel showed that the size of microparticles is several tens of microns, the particle charge per particle is on the order of 10–14 C, and their amount can be estimated as the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the sample at the point of discontinuity to the square of the microparticle size. A model of charge formation on the microparticles is developed proceeding from the experimental data and current concept of the electron gas in metals. The model makes it possible to determine the charge of the microparticle using data on the particle size and mechanical and electrical properties of the material. Model estimates of the total charge of particles show order-of-magnitude agreement with the experimental data.


2021 ◽  
pp. 219256822199479
Author(s):  
Keigo Kameyama ◽  
Tetsuro Ohba ◽  
Tomoka Endo ◽  
Marina Katsu ◽  
Fujita Koji ◽  
...  

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Background: Percutaneous pedicle screws (PPS) have the advantage of being able to better preserve the paraspinal muscles when compared with a traditional open approach. However, the nature of changes in postoperative paraspinal muscle after damage by lumbar fusion surgery has remained largely unknown. It is clinically important to clarify and compare changes in paraspinal muscles after the various surgeries. Objective: (1) To determine postoperative changes of muscle density and cross-sectional area using computed tomography (CT), and (2) to compare paraspinal muscle changes after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with traditional open approaches and minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusions (LLIF) with PPS. Methods: We included data from 39 consecutive female patients who underwent open PLIF and 23 consecutive patients who underwent single-staged treatment with LLIF followed by posterior PPS fixation at a single level (L4-5). All patients underwent preoperative, 6 months postoperative, and 1-year postoperative CT imaging. Measurements of the cross-sectional area (CSA) and muscle densities of paraspinal muscles were obtained using regions of interest defined by manual tracing. Results: We did not find any decrease of CSA in any paraspinal muscles. We did find a decrease of muscle density in the multifidus at 1 year after surgery in patients in the PILF group, but not in those in LLIF/PPS group. Conclusions: One year after surgery, a significant postoperative decrease of muscle density of the multifidi was observed only in patients who underwent open PLIF, but not in those who underwent LLIF/PPS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 727-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Synne Flatlandsmo Tangen ◽  
Anne-Sofie Helvik ◽  
Hilde Eide ◽  
Egil A. Fors

AbstractObjectivesFibromyalgia is a chronic widespread pain (CWP) syndrome of unknown etiology with substantial burden of illness and functional impairment. Pain acceptance has emerged as an interesting target of therapy in chronic pain populations, but few studies have yet been done on the effect of pain acceptance on patients with fibromyalgia. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between pain acceptance and its impact on function and symptoms in fibromyalgia with both a cross-sectional and longitudinal design.MethodsThree hundred and sixty five participants aged 22–70 with fibromyalgia were recruited from the Norwegian Fibromyalgia Association (NFA). They filled out a questionnaire containing the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), measurement of function and symptoms, and Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ), measurement of pain acceptance, in addition to sociodemographic and clinical variables such as degree of fibromyalgia, depression and pain duration (T1 measures). One year after, 87 of the participants filled out the FIQ and clinical measures once again (T2 measures). Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analyses were performed both for cross-sectional measures at T1 and for longitudinal measures from T1 to T2, with FIQ score as the outcome variable and CPAQ score at T1 as one of the main independent variables.ResultsHigher CPAQ score was significantly associated with a lower FIQ score at T1, also when adjusting for age, education, work, depression and Fibromyalgianess Score (p<0.01). Lower FIQ score indicate less impact of fibromyalgia on functioning. In addition, two adjusted linear regression models found higher pain acceptance (CPAQ score) at T1 to be associated with lower negative impact of fibromyalgia on function and symptoms (FIQ score) at T2 (p<0.01).ConclusionsHigher pain acceptance is associated with better functional level and less symptoms in fibromyalgia, both cross-sectionally and when measurements are separated in time. Further research should include experimental studies with acceptance-based interventions for this patient group.


Author(s):  
Rachel J. Viggars ◽  
Andrew Finney ◽  
Barnabas Panayiotou

Summary Background More people are living with frailty and requiring additional health and support services. To improve their management, the “Frailty: Core Capability Framework” in the United Kingdom recommends frailty education for older individuals, their families, carers and health professionals. We performed a systematic review of specific educational programmes for these groups. Methods Electronic databases were searched using dedicated search terms and inclusion criteria. To improve accuracy, two reviewers carried out the screening and selection of research papers. Information from included studies was collected using a tailored data extraction template, and quality appraisal tools were used to assess the rigour of the studies. The findings were analysed to identify key themes. Results A total of 11 studies met the criteria and were included in the review. The study populations ranged from 12 to 603 and the research designs were heterogeneous (6 qualitative; 2 randomised controlled trials; 1 quasi-experimental; 1 mixed methods; 1 cross-sectional study). Whilst some methodological shortcomings were identified, all studies contributed valuable information. The results underwent narrative synthesis, which elucidated four thematic domains: (1) accessibility of educational programmes, (2) empowerment, (3) self-care, and (4) health promotion (especially exercise and nutrition). Conclusion Educational programmes for older people, their carers and health professionals are important for effective frailty prevention and management. To be maximally beneficial, they should be easily accessible to all target populations and include empowerment, self-care and health promotion. Further research should explore the formulation of widely applicable, user-friendly programmes and delivery formats that can be tailored to different client groups.


Author(s):  
Taishi Tsuji ◽  
Satoru Kanamori ◽  
Yasuhiro Miyaguni ◽  
Katsunori Kondo

This study validates the relationship between community-level sports group participation and the frequency of leaving the house and transtheoretical model stages of behavior change for exercise among older individuals who did not participate in a sports group. We used cross-sectional data from the 2016 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. The proportion of sports group participants at the community level was calculated using the data from 157,233 older individuals living in 1000 communities. We conducted a multilevel regression analysis to examine the relationship between the proportion of sports group participants and the frequency of leaving the house (1 day/week or less) and the transtheoretical model stages of behavior change for exercise. A statistically significant relationship was observed between a high prevalence of sports group participation and lower risk of homeboundness (odds ratio: 0.94) and high transtheoretical model stages (partial regression coefficient: 0.06) as estimated by 10 percentage points of participation proportion. Older individuals, even those not participating in a sports group, living in a community with a high prevalence of sports group participation are less likely to be homebound; they are highly interested and have numerous opportunities to engage in exercise.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantin Mazayshvili

The present study has revealed the relationship between the cross sectional area of the great saphenous vein and the degree of tension in the superficial fascia of the thigh. We conducted an ultrasound examination with 27 patients (54 lower limbs) in both standing and walking positions. With an increase and decrease in the degree of tension of the superficial fascia, the blood is pushed to the sapheno-femoral junction. Nearly 200 mm3 of blood flows in, and is pushed out of, a 100-mm great saphenous vein segment in the thigh, towards the sapheno-femoral junction during a step cycle. As a result, the active function of the fascial compartment of the great saphenous vein has been found. We have called this mechanism the superficial venous pump.


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