Mouse Plantar Flexor Muscle Size and Strength After Inactivity and Training

Abstract Background Although joint flexibility is important for human locomotion, the determinants of joint flexibility are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the relationship between dorsiflexion flexibility and plantar flexor muscle size in healthy young males. Methods and results The dorsiflexion flexibility was assessed using range of motion (ROM) and stiffness during active and passive dorsiflexion. Active ROM was defined as the maximal angle during voluntary dorsiflexion. Passive ROM was defined as the angle at the onset of pain during passive dorsiflexion. Passive stiffness was calculated as the slope of the linear portion of the torque-angle curve between 10º and 20º dorsiflexion of the ankle during passive dorsiflexion. In the first study, the plantar flexor muscle volume (MV) in 92 subjects was estimated on the basis of the lower leg length and plantar flexor muscle thickness, as measured using ultrasonography. The estimated plantar flexor MV correlated significantly with active ROM (r = -0.433), passive ROM (r = -0.299), and passive stiffness (r = 0.541) during dorsiflexion (P = 0.01 for all). In the second study, the plantar flexor MV in 38 subjects was measured using magnetic resonance imaging. The plantar flexor MV correlated significantly with plantar flexor active ROM (r = -0.484), passive ROM (r = -0.383), and passive stiffness (r = 0.592) during dorsiflexion (P = 0.05 for all). Conclusions These findings suggest that a larger plantar flexor MV is related to less dorsiflexion flexibility in healthy young males.

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Knee extensor and plantar flexor muscle size and function following 90 days of bed rest with or without resistance exercise

European Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00421-004-1172-8 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 93 (3) ◽

pp. 294-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 177

Author(s):

Bj�rn A. Alkner ◽

Per A. Tesch

Keyword(s):

Resistance Exercise ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Bed Rest ◽

Muscle Size ◽

Plantar Flexor ◽

Flexor Muscle ◽

And Function

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Plantar flexor muscle stretching depresses the soleus late response but not tendon tap reflexes

European Journal of Neuroscience ◽

10.1111/ejn.15178 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Timothy S. Pulverenti ◽

Gabriel S. Trajano ◽

Benjamin J. C. Kirk ◽

Vanesa Bochkezanian ◽

Anthony J. Blazevich

Keyword(s):

Late Response ◽

Plantar Flexor ◽

Flexor Muscle ◽

Muscle Stretching ◽

Tendon Tap

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Plantar flexor muscle action while sitting, standing and prone in patients with upper motor neuron lesion due to stroke

Isokinetics and Exercise Science ◽

10.3233/ies-2003-0148 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 205-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

U. Carlsson ◽

G.-B. Henning ◽

U. Svantesson ◽

K.S. Sunnerhagen

Keyword(s):

Motor Neuron ◽

Plantar Flexor ◽

Muscle Action ◽

Flexor Muscle

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Effects of plantar flexor muscle weakness on children with spastic cerebral palsy – Pilot study

Gait & Posture ◽

10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.08.068 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 81 ◽

pp. 340-341

Author(s):

R. Sert ◽

N.E. Akalan ◽

K. Onerge ◽

C. Sardogan ◽

F. Bilgili

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Muscle Weakness ◽

Spastic Cerebral Palsy ◽

Plantar Flexor ◽

Flexor Muscle

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Effects of Plantar Flexor Muscle Static Stretching Alone and Combined With Massage on Postural Balance

Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine ◽

10.5535/arm.2016.40.5.845 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 40 (5) ◽

pp. 845 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ladan Hemmati ◽

Zahra Rojhani-Shirazi ◽

Samaneh Ebrahimi

Keyword(s):

Postural Balance ◽

Plantar Flexor ◽

Static Stretching ◽

Flexor Muscle

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Hip flexor muscle size in ballet dancers compared to athletes, and relationship to hip pain

Physical Therapy in Sport ◽

10.1016/j.ptsp.2019.05.003 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 146-151

Author(s):

Sophie Emery ◽

Jill Cook ◽

April-Rose Ferris ◽

Peter Smith ◽

Susan Mayes

Keyword(s):

Hip Pain ◽

Muscle Size ◽

Flexor Muscle ◽

Ballet Dancers ◽

Hip Flexor

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A Study of Intrinsic Factors in Patients with Stress Fractures of the Tibia

Foot & Ankle International ◽

10.1177/107110079601700808 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. 477-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Ingrid Ekenman ◽

Li Tsai-Felländer ◽

Pär Westblad ◽

Ibrahim Turan ◽

Christer Rolf

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Stress Fracture ◽

Reference Group ◽

Intrinsic Factor ◽

Gait Pattern ◽

Stress Fractures ◽

Muscle Performance ◽

Plantar Flexor ◽

Flexor Muscle ◽

Intrinsic Factors

We aimed to study intrinsic factors in 29 consecutive patients with well-documented unilateral stress fractures of the tibia. Anthropometry, range of motion, isokinetic plantar flexor muscle performance, and gait pattern were analyzed. The uninjured leg served as the control. A reference group of 30 uninjured subjects was compared regarding gait pattern. Anterior stress fractures of the tibia (N = 10) were localized in the push-off/ landing leg in 9/10 athletes, but were similarly distributed between legs in posteromedial injuries (N = 19). Ten (30%) of the stress fracture subjects had bilateral high foot arches, similar to those found in the reference group. There were no other systematic differences in anthropometry, range of motion, gait pattern, or isokinetic plantar flexor muscle peak torque and endurance between injured and uninjured legs. No other differences were found between anterior and posteromedial stress fractures. We conclude that anterior stress fractures of the tibia occur mainly in the push-off/landing leg in athletes. Within the limitations of our protocol, no registered intrinsic factor was found to be directly associated with the occurrence of a stress fracture of the tibia.

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Passive Ankle Stiffness in Subjects With Diabetes and Peripheral Neuropathy Versus an Age-Matched Comparison Group

Physical Therapy ◽

10.1093/ptj/80.4.352 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 352-362 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

Gretchen B Salsich ◽

Michael J Mueller ◽

Shirley A Sahrmann

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Neuropathy ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Comparison Group ◽

Plantar Flexor ◽

Initial Angle ◽

Flexor Muscle ◽

Ankle Stiffness ◽

Torque Curve ◽

Muscle Excursion ◽

Matched Comparison

Abstract Background and Purpose. Patients with diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy (DM and PN) often complain of joint stiffness. Although stiffness may contribute to some of the impairments and functional limitations found in these patients, it has not been quantified in this population. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare passive ankle stiffness and dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion in subjects with DM and PN versus an age-matched comparison group. Subjects. Thirty-four subjects were tested (17 subjects with DM and PN and 17 subjects in an age-matched comparison group). There were 10 male subjects and 7 female subjects in each group. Methods. A Kin-Com dynamometer was used to measure passive plantar flexor torque as each subject's ankle was moved from plantar flexion into dorsiflexion at 60°/s. The following variables were compared using a Student t test: initial angle (angle of onset of plantar flexor torque), maximal dorsiflexion angle, plantar flexor muscle excursion (difference between initial angle and maximal dorsiflexion angle), slope of the first half of the plantar flexor torque curve (stiffness 1 measurement), and slope of the second half of the plantar flexor torque curve (stiffness 2 measurement). Results. The subjects with DM and PN group had smaller maximal dorsiflexion angles and less plantar flexor muscle excursion than the comparison group. There was no difference in initial angle, stiffness 1 measurement, or stiffness 2 measurement. Conclusion and Discussion. Although the subjects with DM and PN had less dorsiflexion range of motion than did the comparison group, there was no difference in stiffness between the groups. This finding suggests that people with DM and PN have “short” versus “stiff” plantar flexor muscles.

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