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Blickhan R, Siebert T. Note on hydrostatic skeletons: muscles operating within a pressurized environment. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060318. [PMID: 38818878 PMCID: PMC11261639 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Muscles and muscle fibers are volume-constant constructs that deform when contracted and develop internal pressures. However, muscles embedded in hydrostatic skeletons are also exposed to external pressures generated by their activity. For two examples, the pressure generation in spiders and in annelids, we used simplified biomechanical models to demonstrate that high intracellular pressures diminishing the resulting tensile stress of the muscle fibers are avoided in the hydrostatic skeleton. The findings are relevant for a better understanding of the design and functionality of biological hydrostatic skeletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinhard Blickhan
- Science of Motion, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07749 Jena, Germany
| | - Tobias Siebert
- Institute of Sport and Motion Science, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 28, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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2
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Baggaley M, Sawatsky A, Ross SA, Herzog W. A surgical technique for individual control of the muscles of the rabbit lower hindlimb. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb247328. [PMID: 38699818 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Little is known regarding the precise muscle, bone and joint actions resulting from individual and simultaneous muscle activation(s) of the lower limb. An in situ experimental approach is described herein to control the muscles of the rabbit lower hindlimb, including the medial and lateral gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris and tibialis anterior. The muscles were stimulated using nerve-cuff electrodes placed around the innervating nerves of each muscle. Animals were fixed in a stereotactic frame with the ankle angle set at 90 deg. To demonstrate the efficacy of the experimental technique, isometric plantarflexion torque was measured at the 90 deg ankle joint angle at a stimulation frequency of 100, 60 and 30 Hz. Individual muscle torque and the torque produced during simultaneous activation of all plantarflexor muscles are presented for four animals. These results demonstrate that the experimental approach was reliable, with insignificant variation in torque between repeated contractions. The experimental approach described herein provides the potential for measuring a diverse array of muscle properties, which is important to improve our understanding of musculoskeletal biomechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Baggaley
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - Andrew Sawatsky
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - Stephanie A Ross
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - Walter Herzog
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4Z6
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3
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Assila N, Begon M, Duprey S. Finite Element Model of the Shoulder with Active Rotator Cuff Muscles: Application to Wheelchair Propulsion. Ann Biomed Eng 2024; 52:1240-1254. [PMID: 38376768 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03449-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The rotator cuff is prone to injury, remarkably so for manual wheelchair users. To understand its pathomechanisms, finite element models incorporating three-dimensional activated muscles are needed to predict soft tissue strains during given tasks. This study aimed to develop such a model to understand pathomechanisms associated with wheelchair propulsion. We developed an active muscle model associating a passive fiber-reinforced isotropic matrix with an activation law linking calcium ion concentration to tissue tension. This model was first evaluated against known physiological muscle behavior; then used to activate the rotator cuff during a wheelchair propulsion cycle. Here, experimental kinematics and electromyography data was used to drive a shoulder finite element model. Finally, we evaluated the importance of muscle activation by comparing the results of activated and non-activated rotator cuff muscles during both propulsion and isometric contractions. Qualitatively, the muscle constitutive law reasonably reproduced the classical Hill model force-length curve and the behavior of a transversally loaded muscle. During wheelchair propulsion, the deformation and fiber stretch of the supraspinatus muscle-tendon unit pointed towards the possibility for this tendon to develop tendinosis due to the multiaxial loading imposed by the kinematics of propulsion. Finally, differences in local stretch and positions of the lines of action between activated and non-activated models were only observed at activation levels higher than 30%. Our novel finite element model with active muscles is a promising tool for understanding the pathomechanisms of the rotator cuff for various dynamic tasks, especially those with high muscle activation levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najoua Assila
- School of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Research Center of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Univ Lyon, Univ Gustave Eiffel, Univ Claude Bernard Lyon 1, LBMC UMR T_9406, 69622, Lyon, France.
| | - Mickaël Begon
- School of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Research Center of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sonia Duprey
- Univ Lyon, Univ Gustave Eiffel, Univ Claude Bernard Lyon 1, LBMC UMR T_9406, 69622, Lyon, France
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4
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Ellers O, Ellers KI, Johnson AS, Po T, Heydari S, Kanso E, McHenry MJ. Soft skeletons transmit force with variable gearing. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246901. [PMID: 38738313 PMCID: PMC11177778 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
A hydrostatic skeleton allows a soft body to transmit muscular force via internal pressure. A human's tongue, an octopus' arm and a nematode's body illustrate the pervasive presence of hydrostatic skeletons among animals, which has inspired the design of soft engineered actuators. However, there is a need for a theoretical basis for understanding how hydrostatic skeletons apply mechanical work. We therefore modeled the shape change and mechanics of natural and engineered hydrostatic skeletons to determine their mechanical advantage (MA) and displacement advantage (DA). These models apply to a variety of biological structures, but we explicitly consider the tube feet of a sea star and the body segments of an earthworm, and contrast them with a hydraulic press and a McKibben actuator. A helical winding of stiff, elastic fibers around these soft actuators plays a critical role in their mechanics by maintaining a cylindrical shape, distributing forces throughout the structure and storing elastic energy. In contrast to a single-joint lever system, soft hydrostats exhibit variable gearing with changes in MA generated by deformation in the skeleton. We found that this gearing is affected by the transmission efficiency of mechanical work (MA×DA) or, equivalently, the ratio of output to input work. The transmission efficiency changes with the capacity to store elastic energy within helically wrapped fibers or associated musculature. This modeling offers a conceptual basis for understanding the relationship between the morphology of hydrostatic skeletons and their mechanical performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf Ellers
- Biology Department, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME 04011, USA
| | - Kai-Isaak Ellers
- Physics Department, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-7300, USA
| | - Amy S. Johnson
- Biology Department, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME 04011, USA
| | - Theodora Po
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-2525, USA
| | - Sina Heydari
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 95053, USA
| | - Eva Kanso
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Matthew J. McHenry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-2525, USA
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5
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Ross CF, Laurence-Chasen JD, Li P, Orsbon C, Hatsopoulos NG. Biomechanical and Cortical Control of Tongue Movements During Chewing and Swallowing. Dysphagia 2024; 39:1-32. [PMID: 37326668 PMCID: PMC10781858 DOI: 10.1007/s00455-023-10596-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Tongue function is vital for chewing and swallowing and lingual dysfunction is often associated with dysphagia. Better treatment of dysphagia depends on a better understanding of hyolingual morphology, biomechanics, and neural control in humans and animal models. Recent research has revealed significant variation among animal models in morphology of the hyoid chain and suprahyoid muscles which may be associated with variation in swallowing mechanisms. The recent deployment of XROMM (X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology) to quantify 3D hyolingual kinematics has revealed new details on flexion and roll of the tongue during chewing in animal models, movements similar to those used by humans. XROMM-based studies of swallowing in macaques have falsified traditional hypotheses of mechanisms of tongue base retraction during swallowing, and literature review suggests that other animal models may employ a diversity of mechanisms of tongue base retraction. There is variation among animal models in distribution of hyolingual proprioceptors but how that might be related to lingual mechanics is unknown. In macaque monkeys, tongue kinematics-shape and movement-are strongly encoded in neural activity in orofacial primary motor cortex, giving optimism for development of brain-machine interfaces for assisting recovery of lingual function after stroke. However, more research on hyolingual biomechanics and control is needed for technologies interfacing the nervous system with the hyolingual apparatus to become a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum F Ross
- Department of Organismal Biology & Anatomy, The University of Chicago, 1027 East 57th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - J D Laurence-Chasen
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, USA
| | - Peishu Li
- Department of Organismal Biology & Anatomy, The University of Chicago, 1027 East 57th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Courtney Orsbon
- Department of Radiology, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, USA
| | - Nicholas G Hatsopoulos
- Department of Organismal Biology & Anatomy, The University of Chicago, 1027 East 57th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
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6
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Sahani R, Hixson K, Blemker SS. It's more than the amount that counts: implications of collagen organization on passive muscle tissue properties revealed with micromechanical models and experiments. J R Soc Interface 2024; 21:20230478. [PMID: 38320599 PMCID: PMC10846937 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Collagen accumulation is often used to characterize skeletal muscle fibrosis, but the role of collagen in passive muscle mechanics remains debated. Here we combined finite-element models and experiments to examine how collagen organization contributes to macroscopic muscle tissue properties. Tissue microstructure and mechanical properties were measured from in vitro biaxial experiments and imaging in dystrophin knockout (mdx) and wild-type (WT) diaphragm muscle. Micromechanical models of intramuscular and epimuscular extracellular matrix (ECM) regions were developed to account for complex microstructure and predict bulk properties, and directly calibrated and validated with the experiments. The models predicted that intramuscular collagen fibres align primarily in the cross-muscle fibre direction, with greater cross-muscle fibre alignment in mdx models compared with WT. Higher cross-muscle fibre stiffness was predicted in mdx models compared with WT models and differences between ECM and muscle properties were seen during cross-muscle fibre loading. Analysis of the models revealed that variation in collagen fibre distribution had a much more substantial impact on tissue stiffness than ECM area fraction. Taken together, we conclude that collagen organization explains anisotropic tissue properties observed in the diaphragm muscle and provides an explanation for the lack of correlation between collagen amount and tissue stiffness across experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridhi Sahani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Hixson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Silvia S. Blemker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Sleboda DA, Roberts TJ, Azizi E. Architectural gear ratio depends on actuator spacing in a physical model of pennate muscle. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2024; 19:10.1088/1748-3190/ad1b2b. [PMID: 38176106 PMCID: PMC10876153 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ad1b2b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Pennate muscles are defined by the architectural arrangement of their muscle fibers, which run at an angle to the primary axis of muscle shortening. Pennation angles can vary dynamically over the course of individual contractions, influencing the speed and distance of muscle shortening. Despite their relevance to muscle performance, the physical mechanisms that drive dynamic changes in pennation angle remain poorly understood. Muscle fibers bulge radially as they shorten, a consequence of maintaining a constant internal fluid volume, and we hypothesized that radial interactions between tightly packed muscle fibers are essential to dynamic pennation angle changes. To explore this, we built physical models of pennate muscles in which the radial distance between fiber-like actuators could be experimentally altered. Models were built from pennate arrays of McKibben actuators, a type of pneumatic actuator that forcefully shortens and bulges radially when inflated with compressed air. Consistent with past studies of biological muscle and engineered pennate actuators, we found that the magnitude of pennation angle change during contraction varied with load. Importantly, however, we found that pennation angle changes were also strongly influenced by the radial distance between neighboring McKibben actuators. Increasing the radial distance between neighboring actuators reduced pennation angle change during contraction and effectively eliminated variable responses to load. Radial interactions between muscle fibers are rarely considered in theoretical and experimental analyses of pennate muscle; however, these findings suggest that radial interactions between fibers drive pennation angle changes and influence pennate muscle performance. Our results provide insight into the fundamental mechanism underlying dynamic pennation angle changes in biological muscle and highlight design considerations that can inform the development of engineered pennate arrays.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Sleboda
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine
| | - Thomas J. Roberts
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University
| | - Emanuel Azizi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine
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8
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Götschi T, Snedeker JG, Fitze DP, Sarto F, Spörri J, Franchi MV. Three-dimensional mapping of ultrasound-derived skeletal muscle shear wave velocity. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1330301. [PMID: 38179131 PMCID: PMC10764491 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1330301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The mechanical properties of skeletal muscle are indicative of its capacity to perform physical work, state of disease, or risk of injury. Ultrasound shear wave elastography conducts a quantitative analysis of a tissue's shear stiffness, but current implementations only provide two-dimensional measurements with limited spatial extent. We propose and assess a framework to overcome this inherent limitation by acquiring numerous and contiguous measurements while tracking the probe position to create a volumetric scan of the muscle. This volume reconstruction is then mapped into a parameterized representation in reference to geometric and anatomical properties of the muscle. Such an approach allows to quantify regional differences in muscle stiffness to be identified across the entire muscle volume assessed, which could be linked to functional implications. Methods: We performed shear wave elastography measurements on the vastus lateralis (VL) and the biceps femoris long head (BFlh) muscle of 16 healthy volunteers. We assessed test-retest reliability, explored the potential of the proposed framework in aggregating measurements of multiple subjects, and studied the acute effects of muscular contraction on the regional shear wave velocity post-measured at rest. Results: The proposed approach yielded moderate to good reliability (ICC between 0.578 and 0.801). Aggregation of multiple subject measurements revealed considerable but consistent regional variations in shear wave velocity. As a result of muscle contraction, the shear wave velocity was elevated in various regions of the muscle; showing pre-to-post regional differences for the radial assessement of VL and longitudinally for BFlh. Post-contraction shear wave velocity was associated with maximum eccentric hamstring strength produced during six Nordic hamstring exercise repetitions. Discussion and Conclusion: The presented approach provides reliable, spatially resolved representations of skeletal muscle shear wave velocity and is capable of detecting changes in three-dimensional shear wave velocity patterns, such as those induced by muscle contraction. The observed systematic inter-subject variations in shear wave velocity throughout skeletal muscle additionally underline the necessity of accurate spatial referencing of measurements. Short high-effort exercise bouts increase muscle shear wave velocity. Further studies should investigate the potential of shear wave elastography in predicting the muscle's capacity to perform work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Götschi
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Orthopaedics, Sports Medical Research Group, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jess G. Snedeker
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel P. Fitze
- Department of Orthopaedics, Sports Medical Research Group, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Orthopaedics, University Centre for Prevention and Sports Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Sarto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Physiology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Jörg Spörri
- Department of Orthopaedics, Sports Medical Research Group, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Orthopaedics, University Centre for Prevention and Sports Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martino V. Franchi
- Department of Orthopaedics, Sports Medical Research Group, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Physiology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Ozmen GC, Mabrouk S, Nichols C, Berkebile J, Goossens Q, Gazi AH, Inan OT. Mid-Activity and At-Home Wearable Bioimpedance Elucidates an Interpretable Digital Biomarker of Muscle Fatigue. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2023; 70:3513-3524. [PMID: 37405890 PMCID: PMC11092386 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2023.3290530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Muscle health and decreased muscle performance (fatigue) quantification has proven to be an invaluable tool for both athletic performance assessment and injury prevention. However, existing methods estimating muscle fatigue are infeasible for everyday use. Wearable technologies are feasible for everyday use and can enable discovery of digital biomarkers of muscle fatigue. Unfortunately, the current state-of-the-art wearable systems for muscle fatigue tracking suffer from either low specificity or poor usability. METHODS We propose using dual-frequency bioimpedance analysis (DFBIA) to non-invasively assess intramuscular fluid dynamics and thereby muscle fatigue. A wearable DFBIA system was developed to measure leg muscle fatigue of 11 individuals during a 13-day protocol consisting of exercise and unsupervised at-home portions. RESULTS We derived a digital biomarker of muscle fatigue, fatigue score, from the DFBIA signals that was able to estimate the percent reduction in muscle force during exercise with repeated-measures Pearson's r = 0.90 and mean absolute error (MAE) of 3.6%. This fatigue score also estimated delayed onset muscle soreness with repeated-measures Pearson's r = 0.83 and MAE = 0.83. Using at-home data, DFBIA was strongly associated with absolute muscle force of participants (n = 198, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION These results demonstrate the utility of wearable DFBIA for non-invasively estimating muscle force and pain through the changes in intramuscular fluid dynamics. SIGNIFICANCE The presented approach may inform development of future wearable systems for quantifying muscle health and provide a novel framework for athletic performance optimization and injury prevention.
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10
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Petersen JC, Roberts TJ. Evidence for multi-scale power amplification in skeletal muscle. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb246070. [PMID: 37767690 PMCID: PMC10629691 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Many animals use a combination of skeletal muscle and elastic structures to amplify power output for fast motions. Among vertebrates, tendons in series with skeletal muscle are often implicated as the primary power-amplifying spring, but muscles contain elastic structures at all levels of organization, from the muscle tendon to the extracellular matrix to elastic proteins within sarcomeres. The present study used ex vivo muscle preparations in combination with high-speed video to quantify power output, as the product of force and velocity, at several levels of muscle organization to determine where power amplification occurs. Dynamic ramp-shortening contractions in isolated frog flexor digitorum superficialis brevis were compared with isotonic power output to identify power amplification within muscle fibers, the muscle belly, free tendon and elements external to the muscle tendon. Energy accounting revealed that artifacts from compliant structures outside of the muscle-tendon unit contributed significant peak instantaneous power. This compliance included deflection of clamped bone that stored and released energy contributing 195.22±33.19 W kg-1 (mean±s.e.m.) to the peak power output. In addition, we found that power detected from within the muscle fascicles for dynamic shortening ramps was 338.78±16.03 W kg-1, or approximately 1.75 times the maximum isotonic power output of 195.23±8.82 W kg-1. Measurements of muscle belly and muscle-tendon unit also demonstrated significant power amplification. These data suggest that intramuscular tissues, as well as bone, have the capacity to store and release energy to amplify whole-muscle power output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod C. Petersen
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Thomas J. Roberts
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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11
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Krzysztofik M, Wilk M, Kolinger D, Pisz A, Świtała K, Petruzela J, Stastny P. Acute Effects of Supra- and High-Loaded Front Squats on Mechanical Properties of Lower-Limb Muscles. Sports (Basel) 2023; 11:148. [PMID: 37624128 PMCID: PMC10459263 DOI: 10.3390/sports11080148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge about the acute effects of supramaximal-loaded resistance exercises on muscle mechanical properties is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to examine changes in dominant limb biceps femoris and vastus lateralis oscillation frequency and stiffness before and after high- and supramaximal-loaded front squats. Nineteen male handball players participated in the experimental session with a barbell front squat 1RM. The first set was performed at 70% of the 1RM for four repetitions, and the second and third sets were performed at 90%1RM in an eccentric-concentric or an eccentric-only manner at 120% of the 1RM for three repetitions. The handheld myometer was used for the measurement of the biceps femoris and vastus lateralis stiffness and the oscillation frequency of the dominant limb 5 min before and at the 5th and 10th min after front squats. A two-way ANOVA neither indicated a statistically significant interaction (p = 0.335; η2 = 0.059 and p = 0.103; η2 = 0.118), the main effect of a condition (p = 0.124; η2 = 0.126 and p = 0.197; η2 = 0.091), nor the main effect of the time point (p = 0.314; η2 = 0.06 and p = 0.196; η2 = 0.089) for vastus lateralis and biceps femoris stiffness. However, there was a statistically significant interaction (F = 3.516; p = 0.04; η2 = 0.163) for vastus lateralis oscillation frequency. The post hoc analysis showed a significantly higher vastus lateralis oscillation frequency at POST (p = 0.037; d = 0.29) and POST_10 (p = 0.02; d = 0.29) compared to PRE during the SUPRA condition. Moreover, Friedman's test indicated statistically significant differences in biceps femoris oscillation frequency (test = 15.482; p = 0.008; Kendall's W = 0.163). Pairwise comparison showed a significantly lower biceps femoris oscillation frequency in POST (p = 0.042; d = 0.31) and POST_10 (p = 0.015; d = 0.2) during the HIGH condition compared to that in the corresponding time points during the SUPRA condition. The results of this study indicate that the SUPRA front squats, compared to the high-loaded ones, cause a significant increase in biceps femoris and vastus lateralis oscillation frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Krzysztofik
- Department of Sport Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.W.)
- Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
| | - Michal Wilk
- Department of Sport Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.W.)
- Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
| | - Dominik Kolinger
- Department of Sport Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.W.)
| | - Anna Pisz
- Department of Sport Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.W.)
| | - Katarzyna Świtała
- Faculty of Physical Education, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdańsk, Poland;
| | - Jan Petruzela
- Department of Sport Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.W.)
| | - Petr Stastny
- Department of Sport Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.W.)
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12
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Karlas A, Fasoula NA, Katsouli N, Kallmayer M, Sieber S, Schmidt S, Liapis E, Halle M, Eckstein HH, Ntziachristos V. Skeletal muscle optoacoustics reveals patterns of circulatory function and oxygen metabolism during exercise. PHOTOACOUSTICS 2023; 30:100468. [PMID: 36950518 PMCID: PMC10025091 DOI: 10.1016/j.pacs.2023.100468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Imaging skeletal muscle function and metabolism, as reported by local hemodynamics and oxygen kinetics, can elucidate muscle performance, severity of an underlying disease or outcome of a treatment. Herein, we used multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) to image hemodynamics and oxygen kinetics within muscle during exercise. Four healthy volunteers underwent three different hand-grip exercise challenges (60s isometric, 120s intermittent isometric and 60s isotonic). During isometric contraction, MSOT showed a decrease of HbO2, Hb and total blood volume (TBV), followed by a prominent increase after the end of contraction. Corresponding hemodynamic behaviors were recorded during the intermittent isometric and isotonic exercises. A more detailed analysis of MSOT readouts revealed insights into arteriovenous oxygen differences and muscle oxygen consumption during all exercise schemes. These results demonstrate an excellent capability of visualizing both circulatory function and oxygen metabolism within skeletal muscle under exercise, with great potential implications for muscle research, including relevant disease diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelos Karlas
- Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Biological Imaging at the Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolina-Alexia Fasoula
- Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Biological Imaging at the Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikoletta Katsouli
- Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Biological Imaging at the Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Kallmayer
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Sieber
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schmidt
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Evangelos Liapis
- Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Biological Imaging at the Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Halle
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Department of Prevention and Sports Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans-Henning Eckstein
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Vasilis Ntziachristos
- Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Biological Imaging at the Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
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13
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Boyer KA, Hayes KL, Umberger BR, Adamczyk PG, Bean JF, Brach JS, Clark BC, Clark DJ, Ferrucci L, Finley J, Franz JR, Golightly YM, Hortobágyi T, Hunter S, Narici M, Nicklas B, Roberts T, Sawicki G, Simonsick E, Kent JA. Age-related changes in gait biomechanics and their impact on the metabolic cost of walking: Report from a National Institute on Aging workshop. Exp Gerontol 2023; 173:112102. [PMID: 36693530 PMCID: PMC10008437 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Changes in old age that contribute to the complex issue of an increased metabolic cost of walking (mass-specific energy cost per unit distance traveled) in older adults appear to center at least in part on changes in gait biomechanics. However, age-related changes in energy metabolism, neuromuscular function and connective tissue properties also likely contribute to this problem, of which the consequences are poor mobility and increased risk of inactivity-related disease and disability. The U.S. National Institute on Aging convened a workshop in September 2021 with an interdisciplinary group of scientists to address the gaps in research related to the mechanisms and consequences of changes in mobility in old age. The goal of the workshop was to identify promising ways to move the field forward toward improving gait performance, decreasing energy cost, and enhancing mobility for older adults. This report summarizes the workshop and brings multidisciplinary insight into the known and potential causes and consequences of age-related changes in gait biomechanics. We highlight how gait mechanics and energy cost change with aging, the potential neuromuscular mechanisms and role of connective tissue in these changes, and cutting-edge interventions and technologies that may be used to measure and improve gait and mobility in older adults. Key gaps in the literature that warrant targeted research in the future are identified and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Boyer
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA; Department of Orthopedics and Physical Rehabilitation, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Kate L Hayes
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Jonathan F Bean
- New England GRECC, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of PM&R, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer S Brach
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Brian C Clark
- Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute and the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - David J Clark
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - James Finley
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jason R Franz
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yvonne M Golightly
- College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Thurston Arthritis Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Tibor Hortobágyi
- Hungarian University of Sports Science, Department of Kinesiology, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Pécs, Hungary; Somogy County Kaposi Mór Teaching Hospital, Kaposvár, Hungary; Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra Hunter
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Marco Narici
- Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Barbara Nicklas
- Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Thomas Roberts
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, USA
| | - Gregory Sawicki
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
| | - Eleanor Simonsick
- Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jane A Kent
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
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14
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Hopen SR. Intrafasciomembranal Fluid Pressure: A Novel Approach to the Etiology of Myalgias. Cureus 2022; 14:e28475. [PMID: 36176828 PMCID: PMC9512224 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Fascia is a continuous membrane (fasciomembrane) that enables differentiation of fluid pressure on either side. Fascia membrane also enables an internal increased fluid pressure at all muscle levels (fibers, fiber bundles, skeletal muscles, compartments), and the author introduces a new unifying term for these pressures, regardless of the anatomical level - the intrafasciomembranal fluid pressure (IFMFP). Swelling, pain, and loss of tissue function are identified as common cardinal symptoms in trigger point (TrP), chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS), overtraining syndrome (OTS), and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Existing literature and an overall assessment indicate that intramuscular conditions related to fluid flow and pressure play a central role in different conditions, providing a common biomechanical explanation of the etiology and influence, supporting the article's theory that an increased IFMFP plays a key role in these conditions.
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15
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Dimitriou M. Human muscle spindles are wired to function as controllable signal-processing devices. eLife 2022; 11:78091. [PMID: 35829705 PMCID: PMC9278952 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle spindles are encapsulated sensory organs found in most of our muscles. Prevalent models of sensorimotor control assume the role of spindles is to reliably encode limb posture and movement. Here, I argue that the traditional view of spindles is outdated. Spindle organs can be tuned by spinal γ motor neurons that receive top-down and peripheral input, including from cutaneous afferents. A new model is presented, viewing γ motor activity as an intermediate coordinate transformation that allows multimodal information to converge on spindles, creating flexible coordinate representations at the level of the peripheral nervous system. That is, I propose that spindles play a unique overarching role in the nervous system: that of a peripheral signal-processing device that flexibly facilitates sensorimotor performance, according to task characteristics. This role is compatible with previous findings and supported by recent studies with naturalistically active humans. Such studies have so far shown that spindle tuning enables the independent preparatory control of reflex muscle stiffness, the selective extraction of information during implicit motor adaptation, and for segmental stretch reflexes to operate in joint space. Incorporation of advanced signal-processing at the periphery may well prove a critical step in the evolution of sensorimotor control theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Dimitriou
- Physiology Section, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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16
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Zullo L, Di Clemente A, Maiole F. How octopus arm muscle contractile properties and anatomical organization contribute to the arm functional specialization. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274827. [PMID: 35244172 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Octopus arms are highly flexible structures capable of complex motions and are used in a wide repertoire of behaviors. Movements are generated by the coordinated summation of innervation signals to packed arrays of muscles oriented in different directions and moving based on their anatomical relationships. In this study, we investigated the interplay between muscle biomechanics and anatomical organization in the Octopus vulgaris arm to elucidate their role in different arm movements. We performed isometric and isotonic force measurements on isolated longitudinal (L) and transverse (T) arm muscles and showed that L has a higher rate of activation and relaxation, lower twitch-to-tetanus ratio, and lower passive tension than T muscles, thus prompting their use as faster and slower muscles, respectively. This points to the use of L in more graded responses, such as those involved in precise actions, and T in intense and sustained actions, such as motion stabilization and posture maintenance. Once activated, the arm muscles exert forces that cause deformations of the entire arm, which are determined by the amount, location, properties and orientation of their fibers. Here, we show that, although continuous, the arm manifests a certain degree of morphological specialization, where the arm muscles have a different aspect ratio along the arm. This possibly supports the functional specialization of arm portion observed in various motions, such as fetching and crawling. Hence, the octopus arm as a whole can be seen as a 'reservoir' of possibilities where different types of motion may emerge at the limb level through the co-option of the muscle contractile properties and structural arrangement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Zullo
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics & Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.,IRCSS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Alessio Di Clemente
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics & Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Maiole
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics & Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
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17
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Di Clemente A, Maiole F, Bornia I, Zullo L. Beyond muscles: role of intramuscular connective tissue elasticity and passive stiffness in octopus arm muscle function. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:273394. [PMID: 34755832 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The octopus arm is a 'one of a kind' muscular hydrostat, as demonstrated by its high maneuverability and complexity of motions. It is composed of a complex array of muscles and intramuscular connective tissue, allowing force and shape production. In this study, we investigated the organization of the intramuscular elastic fibers in two main muscles composing the arm bulk: the longitudinal (L) and the transverse (T) muscles. We assessed their contribution to the muscles' passive elasticity and stiffness and inferred their possible roles in limb deformation. First, we performed confocal imaging of whole-arm samples and provided evidence of a muscle-specific organization of elastic fibers (more chaotic and less coiled in T than in L). We next showed that in an arm at rest, L muscles are maintained under 20% compression and T muscles under 30% stretching. Hence, tensional stresses are inherently present in the arm and affect the strain of elastic fibers. Because connective tissue in muscles is used to transmit stress and store elastic energy, we investigated the contribution of elastic fibers to passive forces using step-stretch and sinusoidal length-change protocols. We observed a higher viscoelasticity of L and a higher stiffness of T muscles, in line with their elastic fiber configurations. This suggests that L might be involved in energy storage and damping, whereas T is involved in posture maintenance and resistance to deformation. The elastic fiber configuration thus supports the specific role of muscles during movement and may contribute to the mechanics, energetics and control of arm motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Di Clemente
- University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy.,Center for Micro-BioRobotics & Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Maiole
- University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy.,Center for Micro-BioRobotics & Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Irene Bornia
- University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Letizia Zullo
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics & Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.,IRCSS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
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18
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Jimenez YE, Brainerd EL. Motor control in the epaxial musculature of bluegill sunfish in feeding and locomotion. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:272666. [PMID: 34714334 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Fishes possess an impressive repertoire of feeding and locomotor behaviors that in many cases rely on the same power source: the axial musculature. As both functions employ different skeletal systems, head versus body, integrating these functions would likely require modular motor control. Although there have been many studies of motor control in feeding or locomotion in fishes, only one study to date has examined both functions in the same individuals. To characterize bilateral motor control of the epaxial musculature in feeding and locomotion, we measured muscle activity and shortening in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) using electromyography and sonomicrometry. We found that sunfish recruit epaxial regions in a dorsal-to-ventral manner to increase feeding performance, such that high-performance feeding activates all the epaxial musculature. In comparison, sunfish seemed to activate all three epaxial regions irrespective of locomotor performance. Muscle activity was present on both sides of the body in nearly all feeding and locomotor behaviors. Feeding behaviors used similar activation intensities on the two sides of the body, whereas locomotor behaviors consistently used higher intensities on the side undergoing muscle shortening. In all epaxial regions, fast-starts used the highest activation intensities, although high-performance suction feeding occasionally showed near-maximal intensity. Finally, active muscle volume was positively correlated with the peak rate of body flexion in feeding and locomotion, indicating a continuous relationship between recruitment and performance. A comparison of these results with recent work on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) suggests that centrarchid fishes use similar motor control strategies for feeding, but interspecific differences in peak suction-feeding performance are determined by active muscle volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yordano E Jimenez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, 80 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Brainerd
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, 80 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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19
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Walters S, Hoffman B, MacAskill W, Johnson MA, Sharpe GR, Mills DE. The control of respiratory pressures and neuromuscular activation to increase force production in trained martial arts practitioners. Eur J Appl Physiol 2021; 121:3333-3347. [PMID: 34432148 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-021-04800-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The mechanisms that explain the ability of trained martial arts practitioners to produce and resist greater forces than untrained individuals to aid combat performance are not fully understood. We investigated whether the greater ability of trained martial arts practitioners to produce and resist forces was associated with an enhanced control of respiratory pressures and neuromuscular activation of the respiratory, abdominal, and pelvic floor musculature. METHODS Nine trained martial arts practitioners and nine untrained controls were instrumented with skin-surface electromyography (EMG) on the sternocleidomastoid, rectus abdominis, and the group formed by the transverse abdominal and internal oblique muscles (EMGtra/io). A multipair oesophageal EMG electrode catheter measured gastric (Pg), transdiaphragmatic (Pdi), and oesophageal (Pe) pressures and EMG of the crural diaphragm (EMGdi). Participants performed Standing Isometric Unilateral Chest Press (1) and Standing Posture Control (2) tasks. RESULTS The trained group produced higher forces normalised to body mass2/3 (0.033 ± 0.01 vs. 0.025 ± 0.007 N/kg2/3 mean force in Task 1), lower Pe, and higher Pdi in both tasks. Additionally, they produced higher Pg (73 ± 42 vs. 49 ± 19 cmH2O mean Pg) and EMGtra/io in Task 1 and higher EMGdi in Task 2. The onset of Pg with respect to the onset of force production was earlier, and the relative contributions of Pg/Pe and Pdi/Pe were higher in the trained group in both tasks. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that trained martial arts practitioners utilised a greater contribution of abdominal and diaphragm musculature to chest wall recruitment and higher Pdi to produce and resist higher forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherrilyn Walters
- Respiratory and Exercise Physiology Research Group, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, 11 Salisbury Road, Ipswich, QLD, 4305, Australia.
- Centre for Health Research, Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, QLD, Australia.
| | - Ben Hoffman
- Respiratory and Exercise Physiology Research Group, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, 11 Salisbury Road, Ipswich, QLD, 4305, Australia
- Centre for Health Research, Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, QLD, Australia
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - William MacAskill
- Respiratory and Exercise Physiology Research Group, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, 11 Salisbury Road, Ipswich, QLD, 4305, Australia
- Centre for Health Research, Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael A Johnson
- Exercise and Health Research Group, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK
| | - Graham R Sharpe
- Exercise and Health Research Group, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK
| | - Dean E Mills
- Respiratory and Exercise Physiology Research Group, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, 11 Salisbury Road, Ipswich, QLD, 4305, Australia
- Centre for Health Research, Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, QLD, Australia
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20
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Lieber RL, Binder-Markey B. Biochemical and structural basis of the passive mechanical properties of whole skeletal muscle. J Physiol 2021; 599:3809-3823. [PMID: 34101193 PMCID: PMC8364503 DOI: 10.1113/jp280867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Passive mechanical properties of whole skeletal muscle are not as well understood as active mechanical properties. Both the structural basis for passive mechanical properties and the properties themselves are challenging to determine because it is not clear which structures within skeletal muscle actually bear passive loads and there are not established standards by which to make mechanical measurements. Evidence suggests that titin bears the majority of the passive load within the single muscle cell. However, at larger scales, such as fascicles and muscles, there is emerging evidence that the extracellular matrix bears the major part of the load. Complicating the ability to quantify and compare across size scales, muscles and species, definitions of muscle passive properties such as stress, strain, modulus and stiffness can be made relative to many reference parameters. These uncertainties make a full understanding of whole muscle passive mechanical properties and modelling these properties very difficult. Future studies defining the specific load bearing structures and their composition and organization are required to fully understand passive mechanics of the whole muscle and develop therapies to treat disorders in which passive muscle properties are altered such as muscular dystrophy, traumatic laceration, and contracture due to upper motor neuron lesion as seen in spinal cord injury, stroke and cerebral palsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L. Lieber
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and
Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Edward Hines V.A. Medical Center, Hines, IL USA
| | - Ben Binder-Markey
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences
and School of Biomedical Engineering, Sciences and Health Systems, Drexel
University, Philadelphia, PA USA
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21
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Sanno M, Epro G, Brüggemann GP, Willwacher S. Running into Fatigue: The Effects of Footwear on Kinematics, Kinetics, and Energetics. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2021; 53:1217-1227. [PMID: 33394899 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000002576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Recent studies identified a redistribution of positive mechanical work from distal to proximal joints during prolonged runs, which might partly explain the reduced running economy observed with running-induced fatigue. Higher mechanical demand of plantar flexor muscle-tendon units, for example, through minimal footwear, can lead to an earlier onset of fatigue, which might affect the redistribution of lower extremity joint work during prolonged runs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a racing flat and cushioned running shoe on the joint-specific contributions to lower extremity joint work during a prolonged fatiguing run. METHODS On different days, 18 runners performed two 10-km runs with near-maximal effort in a racing flat and a cushioned shoe on an instrumented treadmill synchronized with a motion capture system. Joint kinetics and kinematics were calculated at 13 predetermined distances throughout the run. The effects of shoes, distance, and their interaction were analyzed using a two-factor repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS For both shoes, we found a redistribution of positive joint work from the ankle (-6%) to the knee (+3%) and the hip (+3%) throughout the entire run. Negative ankle joint work was higher (P < 0.01) with the racing flat compared with the cushioned shoe. Initial differences in foot strike patterns between shoes disappeared after 2 km of running distance. CONCLUSIONS Irrespective of the shoe design, alterations in the running mechanics occurred in the first 2 km of the run, which might be attributed to the existence of a habituation rather than fatigue effect. Although we did not find a difference between shoes in the fatigue-related redistribution of joint work from distal to more proximal joints, more systematical studies are needed to explore the effects of specific footwear design features.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gaspar Epro
- Sport and Exercise Science Research Center, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Gert-Peter Brüggemann
- Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopedics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, GERMANY
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22
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Lean Body Mass and Muscle Cross-Sectional Area Adaptations Among College Age Males with Different Strength Levels across 11 Weeks of Block Periodized Programmed Resistance Training. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094735. [PMID: 33946754 PMCID: PMC8124523 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The block periodization training paradigm has been shown to produce enhanced gains in strength and power. The purpose of this study is to assess resistance training induced alterations in lean body mass and cross-sectional area using a block periodization training model among individuals (n = 15) of three differing strength levels (high, moderate and low) based on one repetition maximum back squat relative to body weight. A 3 × 5 mixed-design ANOVA was used to examine within-and between-subject changes in cross-sectional area (CSA), lean body mass (LBM), lean body mass adjusted (LBMadjusted) and total body water (TBW) over an 11-week resistance training program. LBMadjusted is total body water subtracted from lean body mass. The ANOVA revealed no statistically significant between-group differences in any independent variable (p > 0.05). Within-group effects showed statistically significant increases in cross-sectional area (p < 0.001), lean body mass (p < 0.001), lean body mass adjusted (p ˂ 0.001) and total body water (p < 0.001) from baseline to post intervention: CSA: 32.7 cm2 ± 8.6; 36.3 cm2 ± 7.2, LBM: 68.0 kg ± 9.5; 70.6 kg ± 9.4, LBMadjusted: 20.4 kg ± 3.1; 21.0 kg ± 3.3 and TBW: 49.8 kg ± 6.9; 51.7 kg ± 6.9. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest subjects experienced an increase in both lean body mass and total body water, regardless of strength level, over the course of the 11-week block periodized program. Gains in lean body mass and cross-sectional area may be due to edema at the early onset of training.
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Wold ES, Sleboda DA, Roberts TJ. Passive skeletal muscle can function as an osmotic engine. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20200738. [PMID: 33653093 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscles are composite structures. The protein filaments responsible for force production are bundled within fluid-filled cells, and these cells are wrapped in ordered sleeves of fibrous collagen. Recent models suggest that the mechanical interaction between the intracellular fluid and extracellular collagen is essential to force production in passive skeletal muscle, allowing the material stiffness of extracellular collagen to contribute to passive muscle force at physiologically relevant muscle lengths. Such models lead to the prediction, tested here, that expansion of the fluid compartment within muscles should drive forceful muscle shortening, resulting in the production of mechanical work unassociated with contractile activity. We tested this prediction by experimentally increasing the fluid volumes of isolated bullfrog semimembranosus muscles via osmotically hypotonic bathing solutions. Over time, passive muscles bathed in hypotonic solution widened by 16.44 ± 3.66% (mean ± s.d.) as they took on fluid. Concurrently, muscles shortened by 2.13 ± 0.75% along their line of action, displacing a force-regulated servomotor and doing measurable mechanical work. This behaviour contradicts the expectation for an isotropic biological tissue that would lengthen when internally pressurized, suggesting a functional mechanism analogous to that of engineered pneumatic actuators and highlighting the significance of three-dimensional force transmission in skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan S Wold
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - David A Sleboda
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Thomas J Roberts
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Ryan DS, Stutzig N, Helmer A, Siebert T, Wakeling JM. The Effect of Multidirectional Loading on Contractions of the M. Medial Gastrocnemius. Front Physiol 2021; 11:601799. [PMID: 33536934 PMCID: PMC7848218 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.601799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Research has shown that compression of muscle can lead to a change in muscle force. Most studies show compression to lead to a reduction in muscle force, although recent research has shown that increases are also possible. Based on methodological differences in the loading design between studies, it seems that muscle length and the direction of transverse loading influence the effect of muscle compression on force production. Thus, in our current study we implement these two factors to influence the effects of muscle loading. In contrast to long resting length of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) in most studies, we use a shorter MG resting length by having participant seated with their knees at a 90° angle. Where previous studies have used unidirectional loads to compress the MG, in this study we applied a multidirectional load using a sling setup. Multidirectional loading using a sling setup has been shown to cause muscle force reductions in previous research. As a result of our choices in experimental design we observed changes in the effects of muscle loading compared to previous research. In the present study we observed no changes in muscle force due to muscle loading. Muscle thickness and pennation angle showed minor but significant increases during contraction. However, no significant changes occurred between unloaded and loaded trials. Fascicle thickness and length showed different patterns of change compared to previous research. We show that muscle loading does not result in force reduction in all situations and is possibly linked to differences in muscle architecture and muscle length.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Ryan
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Norman Stutzig
- Department of Motion and Exercise Science, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andreas Helmer
- Department of Motion and Exercise Science, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Tobias Siebert
- Department of Motion and Exercise Science, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - James M Wakeling
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Ryan DS, Domínguez S, Ross SA, Nigam N, Wakeling JM. The Energy of Muscle Contraction. II. Transverse Compression and Work. Front Physiol 2020; 11:538522. [PMID: 33281608 PMCID: PMC7689187 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.538522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study we examined how the strain energies within a muscle are related to changes in longitudinal force when the muscle is exposed to an external transverse load. We implemented a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of contracting muscle using the principle of minimum total energy and allowing the redistribution of energy through different strain energy-densities. This allowed us to determine the importance of the strain energy-densities to the transverse forces developed by the muscle. We ran a series of in silica experiments on muscle blocks varying in initial pennation angle, muscle length, and external transverse load. As muscle contracts it maintains a near constant volume. As such, any changes in muscle length are balanced by deformations in the transverse directions such as muscle thickness or muscle width. Muscle develops transverse forces as it expands. In many situations external forces act to counteract these transverse forces and the muscle responds to external transverse loads while both passive and active. The muscle blocks used in our simulations decreased in thickness and pennation angle when passively compressed and pushed back on the load when they were activated. Activation of the compressed muscle blocks led either to an increase or decrease in muscle thickness depending on whether the initial pennation angle was less than or greater than 15°, respectively. Furthermore, the strain energy increased and redistributed across the different strain-energy potentials during contraction. The volumetric strain energy-density varied with muscle length and pennation angle and was reduced with greater transverse load for most initial muscle lengths and pennation angles. External transverse load reduced the longitudinal muscle force for initial pennation angles of β0 = 0°. Whereas for pennate muscle (β0 > 0°) longitudinal force changed (increase or decrease) depending on the muscle length, pennation angle and the direction of the external load relative to the muscle fibres. For muscle blocks with initial pennation angles β0 ≤ 20° the reduction in longitudinal muscle force coincided with a reduction in volumetric strain energy-density.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Ryan
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | | | - Stephanie A Ross
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Nilima Nigam
- Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - James M Wakeling
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.,Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Rolnick N, Schoenfeld BJ. Can Blood Flow Restriction Used During Aerobic Training Enhance Body Composition in Physique Athletes? Strength Cond J 2020. [DOI: 10.1519/ssc.0000000000000585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Willwacher S, Sleboda DA, Mählich D, Brüggemann G, Roberts TJ, Bratke G. The time course of calf muscle fluid volume during prolonged running. Physiol Rep 2020; 8:e14414. [PMID: 32378332 PMCID: PMC7202985 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscle fluid is essential for the biochemistry and the biomechanics of muscle contraction. Here, we provide evidence that muscle fluid volumes undergo significant changes during 75 min of moderate intensity (2.7 ± 0.4 m/s) running. Using MRI measurements at baseline and after 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 45 and 75 min, we found that the volumes of calf muscles (quantified through average cross-sectional area) in 18 young recreational runners increase (up to 9% in the gastrocnemii) at the beginning and decrease (below baseline levels) at later stages of running. However, the intensity of changes varied between analyzed muscles. We speculate that these changes are induced by muscle activity and dehydration-related changes in osmotic pressure gradients between intramuscular and extramuscular spaces. These findings highlight the complex nature of muscle fluid shifts during prolonged running exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Willwacher
- Institute of Biomechanics and OrthopaedicsGerman Sport University CologneCologneGermany
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition SciencesThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - David A. Sleboda
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyBrown UniversityProvidenceRIUSA
| | - Daniela Mählich
- Institute of Biomechanics and OrthopaedicsGerman Sport University CologneCologneGermany
| | - Gert‐Peter Brüggemann
- Institute of Biomechanics and OrthopaedicsGerman Sport University CologneCologneGermany
| | - Thomas J. Roberts
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyBrown UniversityProvidenceRIUSA
| | - Grischa Bratke
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional RadiologyUniversity of CologneCologneGermany
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