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Papachatzis N, Ray SF, Takahashi KZ. Does human foot anthropometry relate to plantar flexor fascicle mechanics and metabolic energy cost across various walking speeds? J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245113. [PMID: 37092255 PMCID: PMC10226764 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245113] [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: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Foot structures define the leverage in which the ankle muscles push off against the ground during locomotion. While prior studies have indicated that inter-individual variation in anthropometry (e.g. heel and hallux lengths) can directly affect force production of ankle plantar flexor muscles, its effect on the metabolic energy cost of locomotion has been inconclusive. Here, we tested the hypotheses that shorter heels and longer halluces are associated with slower plantar flexor (soleus) shortening velocity and greater ankle plantar flexion moment, indicating enhanced force potential as a result of the force-velocity relationship. We also hypothesized that such anthropometry profiles would reduce the metabolic energy cost of walking at faster walking speeds. Healthy young adults (N=15) walked at three speeds (1.25, 1.75 and 2.00 m s-1), and we collected in vivo muscle mechanics (via ultrasound), activation (via electromyography) and whole-body metabolic energy cost of transport (via indirect calorimetry). Contrary to our hypotheses, shorter heels and longer halluces were not associated with slower soleus shortening velocity or greater plantar flexion moment. Additionally, longer heels were associated with reduced metabolic cost of transport, but only at the fastest speed (2.00 m s-1, R2=0.305, P=0.033). We also found that individuals with longer heels required less increase in plantar flexor (soleus and gastrocnemius) muscle activation to walk at faster speeds, potentially explaining the reduced metabolic cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Papachatzis
- Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Samuel F. Ray
- Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Kota Z. Takahashi
- Department of Health & Kinesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Gait Event Prediction Using Surface Electromyography in Parkinsonian Patients. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10020212. [PMID: 36829706 PMCID: PMC9951979 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10020212] [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: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gait disturbances are common manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD), with unmet therapeutic needs. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are capable of monitoring gait, but they lack neurophysiological information that may be crucial for studying gait disturbances in these patients. Here, we present a machine learning approach to approximate IMU angular velocity profiles and subsequently gait events using electromyographic (EMG) channels during overground walking in patients with PD. We recorded six parkinsonian patients while they walked for at least three minutes. Patient-agnostic regression models were trained on temporally embedded EMG time series of different combinations of up to five leg muscles bilaterally (i.e., tibialis anterior, soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, and vastus lateralis). Gait events could be detected with high temporal precision (median displacement of <50 ms), low numbers of missed events (<2%), and next to no false-positive event detections (<0.1%). Swing and stance phases could thus be determined with high fidelity (median F1-score of ~0.9). Interestingly, the best performance was obtained using as few as two EMG probes placed on the left and right vastus lateralis. Our results demonstrate the practical utility of the proposed EMG-based system for gait event prediction, which allows the simultaneous acquisition of an electromyographic signal to be performed. This gait analysis approach has the potential to make additional measurement devices such as IMUs and force plates less essential, thereby reducing financial and preparation overheads and discomfort factors in gait studies.
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Electromyographic Activity of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle in Individuals With Neck Pain and Healthy Volunteers: A Reliability and Between-Group Differences Examination. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2022; 45:459-468. [PMID: 36253200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2022.09.001] [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: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the electromyographic activity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle during the performance of the craniocervical flexion test (CCFT) in individuals with neck pain and healthy volunteers, assess the reliability of this method, and examine possible between-population differences. METHODS Electromyographic activity of the sternocleidomastoid muscles of 22 individuals with neck pain and 22 healthy participants was recorded during the 55 stages of the CCFT. Pain (visual analog scale) and disability (Neck Disability Index) levels and pain duration were recorded for the participants with neck pain. Reliability of electromyography was evaluated with the intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, and minimum detectable change. RESULTS Within-day reliability indices of electromyographic activity were very good to excellent (intraclass correlation coefficients, 0.86-0.98; standard error of measurement, 1.8%-7.6%; minimum detectable change, 5.0%-21.1%). For the head-lift normalization method, 2-way analysis of variance revealed significant between-group differences (P < .02); however, these were not clinically significant when reliability test-retest error was considered. Differences between contraction levels were significant (P < .001); however, the group by contraction level interaction factor was nonsignificant. Therefore, the between-groups electromyographic increases noted with increasing contraction levels were similar. No correlation was identified between participants' electromyography data and pain or disability. CONCLUSION In participants with moderate pain, disability, and pain duration, no clear alterations in electromyographic activity of the sternocleidomastoid could be detected with the CCFT. Reliability of the test used was very good.
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Kim N, Park J, Shin H, Bae Y. Gastrocnemius Medial Head Stiffness Is Associated with Potential Fall Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10050785. [PMID: 35627922 PMCID: PMC9141566 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10050785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to compare the muscle strength, balance ability, thickness, and stiffness of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle in the elderly, with (fallers) and without (non-fallers) fall experience, and confirmed the correlation between the variables mentioned above and muscle stiffness in the faller. We selected 122 elderly participants, comprising 40 fallers and 82 non-fallers, and measured the muscle strength of the tibialis anterior (TA) and the gastrocnemius (GA). Balance ability was measured by the functional reach test (FRT), timed up and go test (TUG), short physical performance battery (SPPB), and gait speed (GS). We used shear wave elastography (SWE) to determine the thickness of the TA and the medial (GAmed) and lateral head (GAlat) of the gastrocnemius and the stiffness during relaxation and contraction. Balance ability, except muscle strength, was significantly lower in fallers compared with non-fallers. The GAmed and GAlat thickness were significantly lower in fallers than that in non-fallers. In fallers, the thickness, rest, and contractive stiffness of GAmed were correlated with the FRT, GS, SPPB. Low rest and GAmed contractive stiffness were related to lower balance ability in fallers. The muscle stiffness measurement using SWE was a novel method to assess potential fall risk.
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Aeles J, Bolsterlee B, Kelp NY, Dick TJM, Hug F. Regional variation in lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscle fibre lengths obtained from diffusion tensor imaging. J Anat 2022; 240:131-144. [PMID: 34411299 PMCID: PMC8655206 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Assessment of regional muscle architecture is primarily done through the study of animals, human cadavers, or using b-mode ultrasound imaging. However, there remain several limitations to how well such measurements represent in vivo human whole muscle architecture. In this study, we developed an approach using diffusion tensor imaging and magnetic resonance imaging to quantify muscle fibre lengths in different muscle regions along a muscle's length and width. We first tested the between-day reliability of regional measurements of fibre lengths in the medial (MG) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and found good reliability for these measurements (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.79 and ICC = 0.84, respectively). We then applied this approach to a group of 32 participants including males (n = 18), females (n = 14), young (24 ± 4 years) and older (70 ± 2 years) adults. We assessed the differences in regional muscle fibre lengths between different muscle regions and between individuals. Additionally, we compared regional muscle fibre lengths between sexes, age groups, and muscles. We found substantial variability in fibre lengths between different regions within the same muscle and between the MG and the LG across individuals. At the group level, we found no difference in mean muscle fibre length between males and females, nor between young and older adults, or between the MG and the LG. The high variability in muscle fibre lengths between different regions within the same muscle, possibly expands the functional versatility of the muscle for different task requirements. The high variability between individuals supports the use of subject-specific measurements of muscle fibre lengths when evaluating muscle function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Aeles
- Laboratory “Movement, Interactions, Performance” (EA 4334)Nantes UniversityNantesFrance
| | - Bart Bolsterlee
- Neuroscience Research AustraliaSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Graduate School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Nicole Y. Kelp
- School of Biomedical SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Taylor J. M. Dick
- School of Biomedical SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - François Hug
- Laboratory “Movement, Interactions, Performance” (EA 4334)Nantes UniversityNantesFrance
- School of Biomedical SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF)ParisFrance
- LAMHESSUniversité Côte d'AzurNiceFrance
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Muscle architecture and shape changes in the gastrocnemii of active younger and older adults. J Biomech 2021; 129:110823. [PMID: 34736086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110823] [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] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
When muscles contract and change length, they also bulge in thickness and/or width. These shape changes extend the functional range of skeletal muscle by allowing individual muscle fibres to shorten at different velocities than the whole muscle. Age-related differences in muscle architecture and tissue properties influence how older muscles change shape and architecture during contractions, yet this remains unexplored in active older adults. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare in vivo muscle architecture and shape changes in the medial (MG) and lateral (LG) gastrocnemii of active younger and older adults during isometric plantarflexion contractions. Fifteen younger (21 ± 2y) and 15 older (70 ± 3y) participants performed contractions at 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). B-mode ultrasound was used to measure fascicle length, pennation angle and muscle thickness in MG and LG. We found no influence of age on changes in normalized fascicle length and thickness, or absolute change in pennation angle during contractions. With increasing contraction level, MG and LG fascicle shortening (P < 0.001) and rotation (P < 0.001) increased. However, the change in muscle thickness increased at higher contraction levels in LG, and not MG. Similarly, increased changes in pennation angle were associated with increased muscle thickness in LG, but not MG at 80% and 100% MVC. These results suggest that (1) gastrocnemii shape changes are similar in active older and younger adults at matched levels of effort, and (2) the relationship between pennation angle and muscle thickness can differ between synergistics (LG and MG) and across contraction levels.
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Hamard R, Aeles J, Kelp NY, Feigean R, Hug F, Dick TJM. Does different activation between the medial and the lateral gastrocnemius during walking translate into different fascicle behavior? J Exp Biol 2021; 224:269039. [PMID: 34096594 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242626] [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: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The functional difference between the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) during walking in humans has not yet been fully established. Although evidence highlights that the MG is activated more than the LG, the link with potential differences in mechanical behavior between these muscles remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to determine whether differences in activation between the MG and LG translate into different fascicle behavior during walking. Fifteen participants walked at their preferred speed under two conditions: 0% and 10% incline treadmill grade. We used surface electromyography and B-mode ultrasound to estimate muscle activation and fascicle dynamics in the MG and LG. We observed a higher normalized activation in the MG than in the LG during stance, which did not translate into greater MG normalized fascicle shortening. However, we observed significantly less normalized fascicle lengthening in the MG than in the LG during early stance, which matched with the timing of differences in activation between muscles. This resulted in more isometric behavior of the MG, which likely influences the muscle-tendon interaction and enhances the catapult-like mechanism in the MG compared with the LG. Nevertheless, this interplay between muscle activation and fascicle behavior, evident at the group level, was not observed at the individual level, as revealed by the lack of correlation between the MG-LG differences in activation and MG-LG differences in fascicle behavior. The MG and LG are often considered as equivalent muscles but the neuromechanical differences between them suggest that they may have distinct functional roles during locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Hamard
- Nantes University, Laboratory 'Movement, Interactions, Performance' (EA 4334), 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Jeroen Aeles
- Nantes University, Laboratory 'Movement, Interactions, Performance' (EA 4334), 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Nicole Y Kelp
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Romain Feigean
- Nantes University, Laboratory 'Movement, Interactions, Performance' (EA 4334), 44000 Nantes, France.,Laboratoire de Physiologie et Evaluation Neuromusculaire, Institut de Myologie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - François Hug
- Nantes University, Laboratory 'Movement, Interactions, Performance' (EA 4334), 44000 Nantes, France.,The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75231 Paris, France
| | - Taylor J M Dick
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Boyer A, Hug F, Avrillon S, Lacourpaille L. Individual differences in the distribution of activation among the hamstring muscle heads during stiff-leg Deadlift and Nordic hamstring exercises. J Sports Sci 2021; 39:1830-1837. [PMID: 33678131 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2021.1899405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the distribution of activation among the three heads of the hamstring between a knee flexion-oriented exercise (Nordic hamstring) and a hip extension-oriented exercise (stiff-leg Deadlift) at the group and individual level. Data were collected for 20 participants. Muscle activation of the semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST), and biceps femoris (BF) was estimated using surface electromyography (EMG) during Nordic hamstring and stiff-leg Deadlift exercises. Although Nordic hamstring exercise induced a higher normalized RMS EMG value for BF (64.5 ± 17.4%) compared to SM (48.6 ± 14.6%; P<0.001) and ST (55.9 ± 17.4%; P < 0.001), the greatest active muscle varied between individuals. Similar interindividual differences in the greatest active muscle were found for the stiff-leg Deadlift exercise. Regarding the distribution of activation, the stiff-leg Deadlift favoured the contribution of the SM compared to ST (P < 0.001, 18/20 participants) whereas the Nordic hamstring exercise favoured the contribution of the ST compared to SM (P < 0.001, 19/20 participants). Importantly, these tasks affected the contribution of the activation of BF in different ways between individuals. The distribution of activation across the three muscles was well correlated between the two exercises (r values ≥ 0.42).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Boyer
- University of Nantes, Movement, Interactions, Performance, Nantes, France
| | - François Hug
- University of Nantes, Movement, Interactions, Performance, Nantes, France.,The University of Queensland, NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Australia.,Institut Universitaire De France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Simon Avrillon
- University of Nantes, Movement, Interactions, Performance, Nantes, France.,Legs & Walking Lab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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9
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Avrillon S, Del Vecchio A, Farina D, Pons JL, Vogel C, Umehara J, Hug F. Individual differences in the neural strategies to control the lateral and medial head of the quadriceps during a mechanically constrained task. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2021; 130:269-281. [DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00653.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We observed that the distribution of the strength of neural drive between the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis during a single-joint isometric task varied across participants. Also, we observed that the proportion of neural drive that was shared within and between these muscles also varied across participants. These results provide evidence that the neural strategies to control the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles widely vary across individuals, even during a mechanically constrained task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Avrillon
- Legs + Walking AbilityLab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Laboratory Movement, Interactions, Performance, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Alessandro Del Vecchio
- Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Neuromechanics and Rehabilitation Technology Group, Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dario Farina
- Neuromechanics and Rehabilitation Technology Group, Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - José L. Pons
- Legs + Walking AbilityLab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Clément Vogel
- Laboratory Movement, Interactions, Performance, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Jun Umehara
- Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - François Hug
- Laboratory Movement, Interactions, Performance, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
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10
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Effect of footwear on intramuscular EMG activity of plantar flexor muscles in walking. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2020; 55:102474. [PMID: 32979677 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2020.102474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the purposes of footwear is to assist locomotion, but some footwear types seem to restrict natural foot motion, which may affect the contribution of ankle plantar flexor muscles to propulsion. This study examined the effects of different footwear conditions on the activity of ankle plantar flexors during walking. Ten healthy habitually shod individuals walked overground in shoes, barefoot and in flip-flops while fine-wire electromyography (EMG) activity was recorded from flexor hallucis longus (FHL), soleus (SOL), and medial and lateral gastrocnemius (MG and LG) muscles. EMG signals were peak-normalised and analysed in the stance phase using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM). We found highly individual EMG patterns. Although walking with shoes required higher muscle activity for propulsion than walking barefoot or with flip-flops in most participants, this did not result in statistically significant differences in EMG amplitude between footwear conditions in any muscle (p > 0.05). Time to peak activity showed the lowest coefficient of variation in shod walking (3.5, 7.0, 8.0 and 3.4 for FHL, SOL, MG and LG, respectively). Future studies should clarify the sources and consequences of individual EMG responses to different footwear.
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11
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Hug F, Vogel C, Tucker K, Dorel S, Deschamps T, Le Carpentier É, Lacourpaille L. Individuals have unique muscle activation signatures as revealed during gait and pedaling. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2019; 127:1165-1174. [DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01101.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although it is known that the muscle activation patterns used to produce even simple movements can vary between individuals, these differences have not been considered to prove the existence of individual muscle activation strategies (or signatures). We used a machine learning approach (support vector machine) to test the hypothesis that each individual has unique muscle activation signatures. Eighty participants performed a series of pedaling and gait tasks, and 53 of these participants performed a second experimental session on a subsequent day. Myoelectrical activity was measured from eight muscles: vastus lateralis and medialis, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius lateralis and medialis, soleus, tibialis anterior, and biceps femoris -long head. The classification task involved separating data into training and testing sets. For the within-day classification, each pedaling/gait cycle was tested using the classifier, which had been trained on the remaining cycles. For the between-day classification, each cycle from day 2 was tested using the classifier, which had been trained on the cycles from day 1. When considering all eight muscles, the activation profiles were assigned to the corresponding individuals with a classification rate of up to 99.28% (2,353/2,370 cycles) and 91.22% (1,341/1,470 cycles) for the within-day and between-day classification, respectively. When considering the within-day classification, a combination of two muscles was sufficient to obtain a classification rate >80% for both pedaling and gait. When considering between-day classification, a combination of four to five muscles was sufficient to obtain a classification rate >80% for pedaling and gait. These results demonstrate that strategies not only vary between individuals, as is often assumed, but are unique to each individual. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used a machine learning approach to test the uniqueness and robustness of muscle activation patterns. We considered that, if an algorithm can accurately identify participants, one can conclude that these participants exhibit discernible differences and thus have unique muscle activation signatures. Our results show that activation patterns not only vary between individuals, but are unique to each individual. Individual differences should, therefore, be considered relevant information for addressing fundamental questions about the control of movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Hug
- Movement, Interactions, Performance, Nantes Université, EA 4334, Nantes, France
- National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Clément Vogel
- Movement, Interactions, Performance, Nantes Université, EA 4334, Nantes, France
| | - Kylie Tucker
- National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sylvain Dorel
- Movement, Interactions, Performance, Nantes Université, EA 4334, Nantes, France
| | - Thibault Deschamps
- Movement, Interactions, Performance, Nantes Université, EA 4334, Nantes, France
| | | | - Lilian Lacourpaille
- Movement, Interactions, Performance, Nantes Université, EA 4334, Nantes, France
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12
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Wessbecher LS, Ahn AN. Lower leg morphology in runners: forefoot strikers have longer heels but not bigger muscles than rearfoot strikers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:222/4/jeb187815. [PMID: 30814277 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.187815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Foot strike pattern used during running may relate to lower leg morphology. We tested the hypotheses that forefoot strike (FFS) runners have longer plantarflexor moment arms (r) and larger plantarflexor muscles than rearfoot strike (RFS) runners. FFS runners had 17% longer r than RFS runners, but all runners had similarly sized medial and lateral gastrocnemius (MG and LG) muscles. Because muscle size also depends on activation pattern ( Ahn et al., 2011), we compared MG:LG activation bias during walking in 24 runners and 23 sedentary subjects. Half of all subjects activated their MG and LG muscles equally ('unbiased') while walking, while the other half activated their MG more strongly than their LG muscles ('MG-biased'). Unbiased sedentary subjects had 16-23% smaller MG muscles compared with MG-biased sedentary subjects, unbiased runners and MG-biased runners. Muscle contraction dynamics during FFS running may balance the effects of longer plantarflexor moment arms in determining MG and LG muscle size.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Wessbecher
- Keck Science Department, Scripps College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - A N Ahn
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
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13
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Do individual differences in the distribution of activation between synergist muscles reflect individual strategies? Exp Brain Res 2018; 237:625-635. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5445-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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14
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Crouzier M, Lacourpaille L, Nordez A, Tucker K, Hug F. Neuromechanical coupling within the human triceps surae and its consequence on individual force sharing strategies. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:jeb.187260. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.187260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the factors that influence the coordination of synergist muscles that act across the same joint, even during single-joint isometric tasks. The overall aim of this study was to determine the nature of the relationship between the distribution of activation and the distribution of force-generating capacity among the three heads of the triceps surae (soleus [SOL], gastrocnemius medialis [GM] and lateralis [GL]). Twenty volunteers performed isometric plantarflexions during which the activation of GM, GL and SOL was estimated using electromyography (EMG). Functional muscle physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) was estimated using imaging techniques and was considered as an index of muscle-force generating capacity. The distribution of activation and PCSA among the three muscles varied greatly between participants. A significant positive correlation between the distribution of activation and the distribution of PCSA was observed when considering the two bi-articular muscles at intensities ≤50% of the maximal contraction (0.51<r<0.62). Specifically, the greater the PCSA of GM compared with GL, the stronger bias of activation to the GM. There was no significant correlation between monoarticular and biarticular muscles. A higher contribution of GM activation compared with GL activation was associated with lower triceps surae activation (−0.66 <r<−0.42) and metabolic cost (−0.74<r<−0.52) for intensities ≥30% of the maximal contraction. Considered together, an imbalance of force between the three heads was observed, the magnitude of which varied greatly between participants. The origin and consequences of these individual force-sharing strategies remain to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Crouzier
- University of Nantes, Laboratory “Movement, Interactions, Performance” (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, Nantes, France
| | - Lilian Lacourpaille
- University of Nantes, Laboratory “Movement, Interactions, Performance” (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, Nantes, France
| | - Antoine Nordez
- University of Nantes, Laboratory “Movement, Interactions, Performance” (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, Nantes, France
- Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kylie Tucker
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, Australia
| | - François Hug
- University of Nantes, Laboratory “Movement, Interactions, Performance” (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, Nantes, France
- The University of Queensland, NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Australia
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
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15
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Hug F, Tucker K. Muscle Coordination and the Development of Musculoskeletal Disorders. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2017; 45:201-208. [DOI: 10.1249/jes.0000000000000122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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16
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Hug F, Goupille C, Baum D, Raiteri BJ, Hodges PW, Tucker K. Nature of the coupling between neural drive and force-generating capacity in the human quadriceps muscle. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:rspb.2015.1908. [PMID: 26609085 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The force produced by a muscle depends on both the neural drive it receives and several biomechanical factors. When multiple muscles act on a single joint, the nature of the relationship between the neural drive and force-generating capacity of the synergistic muscles is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the ratio of neural drive and the ratio of muscle force-generating capacity between two synergist muscles (vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM)) in humans. Twenty-one participants performed isometric knee extensions at 20 and 50% of maximal voluntary contractions (MVC). Myoelectric activity (surface electromyography (EMG)) provided an index of neural drive. Physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) was estimated from measurements of muscle volume (magnetic resonance imaging) and muscle fascicle length (three-dimensional ultrasound imaging) to represent the muscles' force-generating capacities. Neither PCSA nor neural drive was balanced between VL and VM. There was a large (r = 0.68) and moderate (r = 0.43) correlation between the ratio of VL/VM EMG amplitude and the ratio of VL/VM PCSA at 20 and 50% of MVC, respectively. This study provides evidence that neural drive is biased by muscle force-generating capacity, the greater the force-generating capacity of VL compared with VM, the stronger bias of drive to the VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Hug
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, Brisbane, Australia Laboratory EA 4334 'Movement, Interactions, Performance', University of Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Clément Goupille
- Laboratory EA 4334 'Movement, Interactions, Performance', University of Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Daniel Baum
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, and
| | - Brent J Raiteri
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, Centre for Sensorimotor Performance, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Paul W Hodges
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kylie Tucker
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, Brisbane, Australia School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, and
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17
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Hug F, Hodges PW, Tucker KJ. Effect of pain location on spatial reorganisation of muscle activity. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2013; 23:1413-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2013.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Hug F, Boumier F, Dorel S. Altered muscle coordination when pedaling with independent cranks. Front Physiol 2013; 4:232. [PMID: 24009587 PMCID: PMC3755179 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2013.00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pedaling with independent cranks ensures each leg cycles independently of the other, and thus eliminates the contribution of the contralateral leg during the upstroke phase. Consequently the subject is required to actively pull-up the pedal to complete the cycle. The present study aimed to determine the acute effect of the use of independent cranks on muscle coordination during a submaximal pedaling exercise. Ten healthy males were asked to perform submaximal pedaling exercises at 100 Watts with normal fixed cranks (control condition) or independent cranks. Both 2-D pedal forces and electromyographic (EMG) SIGNALS of 10 lower limb muscles were recorded. When the mean EMG activity across the cycle was considered, the use of independent cranks significantly increased the activity level compared to control for Tibialis anterior (TA) (P = 0.0017; +336 ± 302%), Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) (P = 0.0005; +47 ± 25%), Rectus femoris (RF) (P = 0.005; +123 ± 153%), Biceps femoris (BF)—long head (P = 0.0001; +162 ± 97%), Semimembranosus (SM) (P = 0.0001; +304 ± 192%), and Tensor fascia latae (P = 0.0001; +586 ± 262%). The analysis of the four pedaling sectors revealed that the increased activity of hip and knee flexors mainly occurred during the top dead center and the upstroke phase. In addition, a high inter-individual variability was found in the way the participants adapted to pedaling with independent cranks. The present results showed that the enforced pull-up action required when using independent cranks was achieved by increasing the activation of hip and knee flexors. Further studies are needed to determine whether training with independent cranks has the potential to induce long-term changes in muscle coordination, and, if so, whether these changes are beneficial for cycling performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Hug
- Laboratory "Motricité, Interactions, Performance" (EA 4334), UFR STAPS, University of Nantes Nantes, France ; NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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