scholarly journals Assessment of Lumbar Extensor Muscles in the Context of Trunk Function, a Pilot Study in Healthy Individuals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 9518
Author(s):  
Daniela Vlažná ◽  
Peter Krkoška ◽  
Matyáš Kuhn ◽  
Filip Dosbaba ◽  
Ladislav Batalik ◽  
...  

A comprehensive assessment of trunk function, including the lumbar extensor muscles, appears to be important in various conditions affecting axial musculature. This pilot cross-sectional observational study aimed to define a battery of tests that comprehensively assess trunk muscle function (strength and muscular endurance). Sixty subjects without low back pain (LBP) underwent measurement of isometric lower back extensor strength using a hand-held dynamometer (HHD) in three positions; measurement of respiratory muscle strength; and Biering–Sørensen, prone-plank, and side-bridge tests. The repeatability, short-term and long-term reliability using the HHD device in different postural positions was confirmed. The greatest isometric lower back extensor strength was generated in the sitting position by male subjects. Time of effort in the Biering–Sørensen test was longer in women and older subgroups than in men and younger individuals, although this was not the case for the other two muscular endurance tests. This pilot monitoring of trunk muscle strength and endurance in healthy volunteers may lead to a better understanding of trunk muscle function. Based on this methodological background, the authors aim to use the defined battery of tests in their further studies in a group of patients with LBP and certain neuromuscular diseases to verify its usefulness in clinical practice.

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 266???270
Author(s):  
Heli P. R??ty ◽  
Urho Kujala ◽  
Tapio Videman ◽  
Seppo K. Koskinen ◽  
Sirkka-Liisa Karppi ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 1085-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuo Yasuda ◽  
Elisa I. Glover ◽  
Stuart M. Phillips ◽  
Robert J. Isfort ◽  
Mark A. Tarnopolsky

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of short-term (14-day) unilateral leg immobilization using a simple knee brace (60° flexion)- or crutch-mediated model on muscle function and morphology in men (M, n = 13) and women (W, n = 14). Isometric and isokinetic (concentric-slow, 0.52 rad/s and fast, 5.24 rad/s) knee extensor peak torque was determined at three time points (Pre, Day-2, and Day-14). At the same time points, magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning was used to calculate leg lean mass. Muscle biopsies were taken from vastus lateralis at Pre and Day-14 for myosin ATPase and myosin heavy chain analysis. Women showed greater decreases (Pre vs. Day-14) compared with men in specific strength (N/cm2) for isometric [M = 3.1 ± 13.3, W = 17.1 ± 15.9%; P = 0.055 (mean ± SD)] and concentric-slow (M = 4.7 ± 11.3, W = 16.6 ± 18.4%; P < 0.05) contractions. There were no immobilization-induced sex-specific differences in the decrease in quadriceps femoris cross-sectional area (M = 5.7 ± 5.0, W = 5.9 ± 5.2%) or leg lean mass (M = 3.7 ± 4.2, W = 2.7 ± 2.8%). There were no fiber-type transformations, and the decreases in type I (M = 4.8 ± 5.0, W = 5.9 ± 3.4%), IIa (M = 7.9 ± 9.9, W = 8.8 ± 8.0%), and IIx (M = 10.7 ± 10.8, W = 10.8 ± 12.1%) fiber areas were similar between sexes. These findings indicate that immobilization-induced loss of knee extensor muscle strength is greater in women compared with men despite a similar extent of atrophy at the myofiber and whole muscle levels after 14 days of unilateral leg immobilization. Furthermore, we have described an effective and safe knee immobilization method that results in reductions in quadriceps muscle strength and size.


2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cevriye Mülkoğlu ◽  
Sühan Taşkın ◽  
Seçil Vural ◽  
Başak Mansız Kaplan ◽  
Ahmet Buğra Selvi ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e13002-e13002
Author(s):  
L. Jones ◽  
A. Friedman ◽  
M. West ◽  
S. Mabe ◽  
J. Fraser ◽  
...  

e13002 Background: The neuropsychological impact of malignant glioma is well documented; the physiological and functional effects are not known. We conducted a pilot study to quantitatively assess cardiorespiratiory fitness, skeletal muscle function, and body composition of patients with primary malignant glioma. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, patients with clinically stable postsurgical (10 ± 7 days post surgery) high-grade glioma (HGG; n=25) and low-grade glioma (LGG) were studied. Participants performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with expired gas analysis to assess peak exercise capacity (VO2peak) and other parameters of cardiovascular function. Other physiological outcomes included skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA; magnetic resonance imaging), isokinetic muscle strength (isokinetic dynamometer), and body composition (air displacement plethysmography). QOL was assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain scale (FACT-BR). Results: CPET was a feasible and safe procedure for malignant glioma patients with no serious adverse events. Peak VO2 indexed to total body weight and lean body mass for both groups was 13.0 mL.min-1 and 19 mL.min-1; the equivalent to 59% and 38% below age and sex-predicted normative values, respectively. Skeletal muscle isokinetic strength was significantly lower in HGG relative to LGG patients (83 vs. 125 Nm, p=.025) and predicted peak VO2 (r = 0.44, p<0.05). In patients with HGG, only self-reported exercise behavior was correlated with QOL (r = 0.42; p=.046) while sex (male) (r = 0.44; p=.037), lean mass (r = -0.41; p=.049), and VO2peak (r = -0.40; p=.052) were associated with fatigue. Conclusions: CPET is a safe and feasible tool to evaluate physical functioning in select patients with malignant glioma. Postsurgical glioma patients have markedly reduced exercise capacity, isokinetic strength and CSA. Muscle strength is an important contributor to poor VO2peak in this population. Prospective studies are now required to determine whether such abnormalities influence prognosis as well as test the effect of appropriately selected interventions to prevent and/or mitigate dysfunction. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2010 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Summer B. Cook ◽  
Kimberly A. Brown ◽  
Keith DeRuisseau ◽  
Jill A. Kanaley ◽  
Lori L. Ploutz-Snyder

This study evaluated the effectiveness of low-load resistance training with a blood flow restriction (LLBFR) to attenuate muscle loss and weakness after 30 days of unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS). Sixteen subjects (ages 18–50 yr) underwent 30 days of ULLS. Measurements of muscle strength, cross-sectional area, and endurance on the knee extensors and plantar flexors were collected before and after ULLS. Plasma concentrations of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were also assessed. During ULLS, eight subjects (5 males, 3 females) participated in LLBFR three times per week (ULLS + Exercise) while eight subjects (4 males, 4 females) did not exercise (ULLS). The blood flow-restricted exercise consisted of dynamic knee extension at 20% of the subject's isometric maximum voluntary contraction coupled with a suprasystolic blood flow restriction. After 30 days of limb suspension, the ULLS + Exercise group experienced minimal and insignificant losses in knee extensor cross-sectional area and strength (1.2% and 2.0%, respectively; P ≤ 0.05), while the ULLS group demonstrated significant reductions in cross-sectional area and strength (7.4% and 21%, respectively). Decrements in plantar flexor strength (23.7%) and cross-sectional area (7.4%) were observed after ULLS ( P < 0.05) and were of similar magnitude between the experimental groups ( P > 0.05). Muscular endurance in the knee extensors improved 31% in the ULLS + Exercise group, while it decreased 24% in the ULLS group ( P = 0.01). No changes were seen in hormone concentrations throughout the study. In conclusion, LLBFR of the knee extensors is effective in maintaining muscle strength and size during 30 days of ULLS and results in improved knee extensor muscular endurance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. s-0035-1554308-s-0035-1554308
Author(s):  
Marko H. Neva ◽  
Sami Tarnanen ◽  
Liisa Pekkanen ◽  
Ilkka Marttinen ◽  
Tiina Kaistila ◽  
...  

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