Reactivate Your Second Heart

Sitting or standing without moving the leg muscles puts additional stress on your heart, as blood and lymph pool in the legs. Tightening and relaxing the calf muscles can prevent the pooling of the blood. The inactivity of the calf muscles does not allow the blood to flow upward and may result in “sitting disease,” contributing to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Activating the calf muscles as well as other leg muscles are strategies to support cardiovascular health. Thus, the calf muscles are sometimes called “our second heart.” The important function of our “second heart” is to act as a pump to return venous blood and lymph fluids upward, which can occur only when we interrupt sitting with many brief exercises by frequently standing up during the day. Suggestions regarding how to implement short breaks are included. Note that, medically, the term second heart refers to the cisterna chyli, which brings the lymphatic fluids up from the abdomen; however, in this article, second heart is used in a common popular sense of the term as the description of the calf muscle to pump the venous blood toward the heart.

Muscle volume evaluation using 3DCT for congenital clubfoot

Background In congenital clubfoot, the lower leg is very thin and the calf muscles are hypoplasic. However, there are few studies reporting real muscle volume. Purpose The purpose of this study is to assay the muscle volume in congenital clubfoot using 3DCT and to quantify the degree of the hypoplasia. Material and methods From January 2015 to December 2016, nine consecutive patients, seven male and two female, with unilateral congenital clubfeet were recruited for CT scans. Axial transverse sectional CT scans were acquired from the delineation of the fibular head to the tibial plafond. From the data, we rendered the entire muscle in 3D for muscle volume assay, and further segmented the posterior musculature for comparison between the normal and affected sides. Results The whole muscle volume on the normal side was 291.23 cm3 (181.23–593.49) and that on the affected side was 225.08 cm3 (120.71–429.08), for an affected side to normal side ratio of 0.79 (0.72–0.9), which was significantly smaller ( p < .01). Posterior muscle volume on the normal side was 175.81 cm3 (103.72–376.32) and that on the affected side was 106.52 cm3 (58.3–188.39). The ratio of posterior muscle to whole muscle on the normal side was 0.62 (0.46–0.75), and that on the affected side was 0.48 (0.4–0.55), such that the affected side was significantly smaller ( p < .01) Conclusion This study contributes quantitative data supporting the longstanding observations that the posterior calf muscles are significantly smaller on the affected side compared to the normal side in congenital clubfoot, and further underscores the importance of the extending the excursion of these muscles.

Effects of Different Tissue Flossing Applications on Range of Motion, Maximum Voluntary Contraction, and H-Reflex in Young Martial Arts Fighters

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tissue flossing applied to the ankle joint or to the calf muscles, on ankle joint flexibility, plantarflexor strength and soleus H reflex. Eleven young (16.6 ± 1.2 years) martial arts fighters were exposed to three different intervention protocols in distinct sessions. The interventions consisted of wrapping the ankle (ANKLE) or calf (CALF) with an elastic band for 3 sets of 2 min (2 min rest) to create vascular occlusion. A third intervention without wrapping the elastic band served as a control condition (CON). Active range of motion for ankle (AROM), plantarflexor maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), and soleus H reflex were assessed before (PRE), after (POST), and 10 min after (POST10) the intervention. The H reflex, level of pain (NRS) and wrapping pressure were also assessed during the intervention. Both CALF and ANKLE protocols induced a significant drop in H reflex during the intervention. However, the CALF protocol resulted in a significantly larger H reflex reduction during and after the flossing intervention (medium to large effect size). H reflexes returned to baseline levels 10 min after the intervention in all conditions. AROM and MVC were unaffected by any intervention. The results of this study suggest that tissue flossing can decrease the muscle soleus H reflex particularly when elastic band is wrapped around the calf muscles. However, the observed changes at the spinal level did not translate into higher ankle joint flexibility or plantarflexor strength.

Efficacy of Percussive Massage versus Calf Stretching on Pain, Range of Motion, Muscle Strength and Functional Outcomes in Patients with Plantar Fasciitis – A Research Protocol

Introduction: Plantar fasciitis occurs with the deterioration of the plantar fascia and related surrounding tissues around the heel's medial calcaneal tuberosity. This illness usually causes tightness in the calf muscles. These tight muscles are thought to interfere with the normal biomechanics of ambulation. The invention of percussion massage guns intends to improve the usefulness and efficiency of self-myofascial release, following in the footsteps of vibrating foam rollers. Since there is limited research on muscle gun devices, despite their growing popularity, this study will look into their effects on range of motion, essential physiological or biomechanical factors that contribute to the disease, and their capacity to reduce muscular tightness. Methodology: Subjects with Plantar Fasciitis (n = 48) will be recruited for a single-blind RCT. Participants will be assigned randomly to the experimental or control groups with a one-to-one allocation ratio. Participants in Group A will receive treatment via Theragun, Hot/cold immersion therapy, and a home exercise regimen during a one-week period immediately following baseline evaluations and randomization. Participants in GROUP B would only be subjected to Calf Stretching, a Contrast Bath, and a home exercise regimen. For a week, the calf muscles were treated for 5 minutes every day (7 sessions in all). As 1 week is completed, the efficacy of the approach for both groups is assessed using ankle flexibility tests, VAS, universal goniometers, Active Manual muscle testing, and the (PFPS) as outcome measures. Discussion: The purpose of this study is to compare the benefits of the Hypervolt device vs calf stretching in individuals with plantar fasciitis. The outcomes of the study, which may include a newly designed rehabilitation technique, may assist patients experiencing Plantar +-Fasciitis. Conclusion: Conclusion will be drawn based on the effect of both the techniques on Pain, Range of Motion, Muscle Strength, and Functional Outcomes in Patients with Plantar Fasciitis.

Enhancement of muscle’s activity by woven compression bandage

Electromyography (EMG) test, the recording of electrical activity in muscle, is a main tool usually used to evaluate themuscle’s activation. This study aims to discuss and analyse the effect of woven compression bandage (WCB) onmuscles’ activation. Flexor Carpi (FC), Soleus (SO), and Medial Gastrocnemius (MG) muscles were selected torepresent the wrist, ankle, and mid-calf muscles respectively, which were then evaluated by EMG electrical voltage testwith and without wearing WCB. The standardized activities used to test the FC muscle were flexion-extension andsqueezing a soft roll. While the protocol activities for MG and SO muscles were flexion-extension and walking actions.Wearing WCB significantly decreased the muscle’s activation and was associated with higher median frequency for bothSO and MG muscles during the tested activities. The EMG signals were analysed and filtered using MegaWin andMATLAB software. Root mean square (RMS) values confirmed that wearing WCB could improve the performance of FC,SO, and MG muscles and might reduce the muscle’s fatigue during the selected activities.

High Inter-Rater Reliability of Manual Segmentation and Volume-Based Tractography in Healthy and Dystrophic Human Calf Muscle

Background: Muscle diffusion tensor imaging (mDTI) is a promising surrogate biomarker in the evaluation of muscular injuries and neuromuscular diseases. Since mDTI metrics are known to vary between different muscles, separation of different muscles is essential to achieve muscle-specific diffusion parameters. The commonly used technique to assess DTI metrics is parameter maps based on manual segmentation (MSB). Other techniques comprise tract-based approaches, which can be performed in a previously defined volume. This so-called volume-based tractography (VBT) may offer a more robust assessment of diffusion metrics and additional information about muscle architecture through tract properties. The purpose of this study was to assess DTI metrics of human calf muscles calculated with two segmentation techniques—MSB and VBT—regarding their inter-rater reliability in healthy and dystrophic calf muscles. Methods: 20 healthy controls and 18 individuals with different neuromuscular diseases underwent an MRI examination in a 3T scanner using a 16-channel Torso XL coil. DTI metrics were assessed in seven calf muscles using MSB and VBT. Coefficients of variation (CV) were calculated for both techniques. MSB and VBT were performed by two independent raters to assess inter-rater reliability by ICC analysis and Bland-Altman plots. Next to analysis of DTI metrics, the same assessments were also performed for tract properties extracted with VBT. Results: For both techniques, low CV were found for healthy controls (≤13%) and neuromuscular diseases (≤17%). Significant differences between methods were found for all diffusion metrics except for λ1. High inter-rater reliability was found for both MSB and VBT (ICC ≥ 0.972). Assessment of tract properties revealed high inter-rater reliability (ICC ≥ 0.974). Conclusions: Both segmentation techniques can be used in the evaluation of DTI metrics in healthy controls and different NMD with low rater dependency and high precision but differ significantly from each other. Our findings underline that the same segmentation protocol must be used to ensure comparability of mDTI data.

Gordon's reflex. Auerbach (Zeit. f. ärz. Forth., 1922, No. 5)

The author draws attention to the importance in the diagnosis of many diseases of the central nervous system of the sign, first noticed, in 1904, by Gordon. The sign is that if you make a patient bend his leg and rotate his tibia slightly outward, press deeply with four (II-V) fingers of one or, even better, both hands on the most distal third of the calf muscles, then, as in the Babinsk's sign, you get a sluggish, isolated dorsal flexion of the big toe.

The effects of calf muscles fatigue on dynamic plantar pressure distribution in normal foot posture and flexible flatfoot: A case-control study

BACKGROUND: Flexible flatfoot is associated with altered plantar pressure distribution, but it is not clear how muscle fatigue affects plantar pressure characteristics in flexible flatfoot and normal foot. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of calf muscles fatigue on plantar pressure variables in flexible flatfoot and normal foot. METHODS: Twenty-five people with flexible flatfoot and twenty-five people with normal foot were included. The unilateral heel-rise test was used to induce calf muscles fatigue. Plantar pressure variables were collected during preferred walking immediately before and after fatigue. The two-way mixed-design ANOVA was used to determine the main effect of fatigue and the interaction between foot posture and fatigue. RESULTS: Fatigue causes medialization of the contact area under the forefoot and the maximum force under the heel and forefoot (p< 0.05). When examining the differences in the effects of fatigue between groups, the contact area under the medial heel increased with fatigue in flexible flatfoot but decreased in normal foot; moreover, the contact area and maximum force under the midfoot and the maximum force under the third metatarsal decreased with fatigue in flexible flatfoot but increased in normal foot (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Calf muscles fatigue causes medialization of the maximum force and contact area. Especially the midfoot was affected differently by fatigue in flexible flatfoot and normal foot.

A CLINICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE SADYO SHOOLAHARA EFFECTIVENESS OF LAGHUPANCHAMOOLA KASHAYA WITH TRIVRUTH CHOORNAM IN GRIDHRASI (SCIATICA)

Gridhrasi is one among Vataja nanatmaja Vikara characterised by Sthabdhata, Ruk, Toda which radiates from buttock region, lumbar region, thigh, knee, calf muscles and legs. Gridhrasi is of two types viz Vataja and Vata Kaphaja Gridhrasi. Vataja Gridhrasi is characterized by severe pain and Vata Kaphaja Gridhrasi has symptoms viz Tandra, Gaurava and Aruchi. The signs and symptoms of Gridhrasi can be correlated to sciatica of modern medicine. Sciatica is characterized by constant aching pain felt in lumbar region which may radiate to the buttock, thigh, calf and foot and pain is experienced along the sciatic nerve pathway. It was a clinical study with a pre and post design in 30 patients who were diagnosed with Gridhrasi. After examination Laghupanchamoola Kashaya with trivruth choornam was given for 7 days. The assessment criteria were noted before and after treatment and on follow-up. Among the subjective and objective parameters, in the Overall effect of treatment in gridhrasi, out of 30 patients in this study, 15 patients (50%) got Mild effectiveness in shoola, and 15 patients (50%) got Moderate effectiveness in shoola. The overall effect of the treatment was 30.19%. Hence it can be concluded that Laghupanchamoola Kashaya with trivruth choornam is having mild improvement on symptoms of Gridhrasi and shows the long-lasting result. Keywords: Gridhrasi, Sciatica, Laghupanchamoola Kashaya, Trivruth choornam