scholarly journals Effects of a Single Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching Exercise With and Without Post-stretching Activation on the Muscle Function and Mechanical Properties of the Plantar Flexor Muscles

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Reiner ◽  
Markus Tilp ◽  
Gaël Guilhem ◽  
Antonio Morales-Artacho ◽  
Masatoshi Nakamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Shear Modulus ◽  
Muscle Function ◽  
Peak Torque ◽  
Neutral Position ◽  
Plantar Flexor ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction ◽  
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Plantar Flexor Muscles

A single proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching exercise can increase the range of motion (ROM) of a joint but can lead to a decrease in performance immediately after the stretching exercise. Post-stretching activation (PSA) exercises are known as a possible way to counteract such a drop in performance following a single stretching exercise. However, to date, no study has investigated the combination of PNF stretching with PSA. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of a PNF stretching exercise with and without PSA on the muscle function (e.g., ROM) and mechanical properties of the plantar flexor muscles. Eighteen physically active males volunteered in the study, which had a crossover design and a random order. The passive shear modulus of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) was measured in a neutral position with shear wave elastography, both pre- and post-intervention. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) peak torque, maximum voluntary dynamic contraction peak torque, dorsiflexion ROM, and passive resistive torque (PRT) were also measured with a dynamometer. The interventions were 4×30s of PNF stretching (5s of contraction) and two sets of three exercises with 20 or 40 fast ground contacts (PNF stretching+PSA) and PNF stretching only. ROM was found to have increased in both groups (+4%). In addition, the PNF stretching+PSA group showed a decrease in PRT at a given angle (−7%) and a decrease in GM and mean shear modulus (GM+GL; −6%). Moreover, the MVIC peak torque decreased (−4%) only in the PNF stretching group (without PSA). Therefore, we conclude that, if PNF stretching is used as a warm-up exercise, target-muscle-specific PSA should follow to keep the performance output at the same level while maintaining the benefit of a greater ROM.

Chronic effects of muscle and nerve-directed stretching on tissue mechanics

2020 ◽  
Vol 129 (5) ◽  
pp. 1011-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo J. Andrade ◽  
Sandro R. Freitas ◽  
François Hug ◽  
Guillaume Le Sant ◽  
Lilian Lacourpaille ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Sciatic Nerve ◽  
Peripheral Nerves ◽  
Tissue Mechanics ◽  
Plantar Flexor ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Plantar Flexor Muscles

This study demonstrates that the mechanical properties of plantar flexor muscles and sciatic nerve can adapt mechanically to long-term stretching programs. Although interventions targeting muscular or nonmuscular structures are both effective at increasing maximal range of motion, the changes in tissue mechanical properties (stiffness) are specific to the structure being preferentially stretched by each program. We provide the first in vivo evidence that stiffness of peripheral nerves adapts to long-term loading stimuli using appropriate nerve-directed stretching.

Changes in mechanical properties of human plantar flexor muscles in ageing

2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Ochala ◽  
Daniel Lambertz ◽  
Michel Pousson ◽  
Francis Goubel ◽  
Jacques Van Hoecke
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Plantar Flexor ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Plantar Flexor Muscles

scholarly journals Influence of Aerobic Exercise After Static Stretching on Flexibility and Strength in Plantar Flexor Muscles

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kosuke Takeuchi ◽  
Masatoshi Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Peak Torque ◽  
Plantar Flexor ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Control Range ◽  
Passive Torque ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Plantar Flexor Muscles ◽  
Displacement Peak ◽  
Healthy Males

Aerobic exercise could improve stretch-induced strength deficits. However, mechanisms of the improvement were unclear. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of aerobic exercise after static stretching (SS) on flexibility and isometric strength in ankle plantar-flexor muscles. Fifteen healthy males received two interventions after SS of their ankle plantar-flexor muscles for 5 min. One was aerobic exercise for 10-min on a cycling ergometer, and the other was a 10-min rest as a control. Range of motion (ROM) of ankle dorsiflexion, passive torque at terminal ROM, muscle-tendon unit (MTU) stiffness, muscle tendon junction displacement, peak torque of ankle plantarflexion, and the amplitude of electromyography (EMG) were measured. Immediately after the SS, in both interventions, ROM, passive torque, and muscle tendon junction displacement increased significantly (p < 0.05), while MTU stiffness, peak torque, and the amplitude of EMG were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). After 10-min on a cycling ergometer, the decreased peak torque and amplitude of EMG indicated higher values than those before SS (p < 0.05), while MTU stiffness was no change. In conclusion, SS increased ROM because of the decreased MTU stiffness as well as increased tolerance for stretching. Aerobic exercise could increase the muscle strength and amplitude of EMG which decreased after static stretching.

Influence of overweight on the mechanical properties of plantar flexor muscles in prepubertal children

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. e1-e2
Author(s):  
Daniel Lambertz ◽  
Thaysa Souza ◽  
Luciana Xavier ◽  
Mariana Dantas ◽  
Karla Ferraz
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Plantar Flexor ◽  
Prepubertal Children ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Plantar Flexor Muscles

Mechanical properties of the plantar flexor muscles in malnourished prepubertal children

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (sup001) ◽  
pp. 179-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.G. Paiva ◽  
Smoc Marinho ◽  
Prag Amaral ◽  
F. Canon ◽  
Kmft Barros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Plantar Flexor ◽  
Prepubertal Children ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Plantar Flexor Muscles

scholarly journals Ultrasound-derived changes in thickness of human ankle plantar flexor muscles during walking and running are not homogeneous along the muscle mid-belly region

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. F. Hodson-Tole ◽  
A. K. M. Lai
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Parametric Mapping ◽  
Muscle Thickness ◽  
Ultrasound Images ◽  
Plantar Flexor ◽  
Image Region ◽  
Thickness Change ◽  
Musculoskeletal Models ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Anatomical Space ◽  
Plantar Flexor Muscles

Abstract Skeletal muscle thickness is a valuable indicator of several aspects of a muscle’s functional capabilities. We used computational analysis of ultrasound images, recorded from 10 humans walking and running at a range of speeds (0.7–5.0 m s−1), to quantify interactions in thickness change between three ankle plantar flexor muscles (soleus, medial and lateral gastrocnemius) and quantify thickness changes at multiple muscle sites within each image. Statistical analysis of thickness change as a function of stride cycle (1d statistical parametric mapping) revealed significant differences between soleus and both gastrocnemii across the whole stride cycle as they bulged within the shared anatomical space. Within each muscle, changes in thickness differed between measurement sites but not locomotor condition. For some of the stride, thickness measures taken from the distal-mid image region represented the mean muscle thickness, which may therefore be a reliable region for these measures. Assumptions that muscle thickness is constant during a task, often made in musculoskeletal models, do not hold for the muscles and locomotor conditions studied here and researchers should not assume that a single thickness measure, from one point of the stride cycle or a static image, represents muscle thickness during dynamic movements.

Characterization of torque generating properties of ankle plantar flexor muscles in ambulant adults with cerebral palsy

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (5) ◽  
pp. 1127-1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasmus Feld Frisk ◽  
Jakob Lorentzen ◽  
Lee Barber ◽  
Jens Bo Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Plantar Flexor ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Plantar Flexor Muscles
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