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Werkhausen A, Gløersen Ø, Nordez A, Paulsen G, Bojsen-Møller J, Seynnes OR. Linking muscle architecture and function in vivo: conceptual or methodological limitations? PeerJ 2023; 11:e15194. [PMID: 37077309 PMCID: PMC10108853 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15194] [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: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the clear theoretical link between sarcomere arrangement and force production, the relationship between muscle architecture and function remain ambiguous in vivo. Methods We used two frequently used ultrasound-based approaches to assess the relationships between vastus lateralis architecture parameters obtained in three common conditions of muscle lengths and contractile states, and the mechanical output of the muscle in twenty-one healthy subjects. The relationship between outcomes obtained in different conditions were also examined. Muscle architecture was analysed in panoramic ultrasound scans at rest with the knee fully extended and in regular scans at an angle close to maximum force (60°), at rest and under maximum contraction. Isokinetic and isometric strength tests were used to estimate muscle force production at various fascicle velocities. Results Measurements of fascicle length, pennation angle and thickness obtained under different experimental conditions correlated moderately with each other (r = 0.40-.74). Fascicle length measured at 60° at rest correlated with force during high-velocity knee extension (r = 0.46 at 400° s-1) and joint work during isokinetic knee extension (r = 0.44 at 200° s-1 and r = 0.57 at 100° s-1). Muscle thickness was related to maximum force for all measurement methods (r = 0.44-0.73). However, we found no significant correlations between fascicle length or pennation angle and any measures of muscle force or work. Most correlations between architecture and force were stronger when architecture was measured at rest close to optimal length. Conclusion These findings reflect methodological limitations of current approaches to measure fascicle length and pennation angle in vivo. They also highlight the limited value of static architecture measurements when reported in isolation or without direct experimental context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Werkhausen
- Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Øyvind Gløersen
- Smart Sensors and Microsystems, SINTEF Digital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Antoine Nordez
- Movement - Interactions - Performance, MIP, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, IUF, France
| | - Gøran Paulsen
- Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jens Bojsen-Møller
- Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Olivier R. Seynnes
- Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
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2
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Aeles J, Bellett M, Lichtwark GA, Cresswell AG. The effect of small changes in rate of force development on muscle fascicle velocity and motor unit discharge behaviour. Eur J Appl Physiol 2022; 122:1035-1044. [PMID: 35146568 PMCID: PMC8926959 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-04905-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
When rate of force development is increased, neural drive increases. There is presently no accepted explanation for this effect. We propose and experimentally test the theory that a small increase in rate of force development increases medial gastrocnemius fascicle shortening velocity, reducing the muscle's force-generating capacity, leading to active motor units being recruited at lower forces and with increased discharge frequencies. Participants produced plantar flexion torques at three different rates of force development (slow: 2% MVC/s, medium: 10% MVC/s, fast: 20% MVC/s). Ultrasound imaging showed that increased rate of force development was related to higher fascicle shortening velocity (0.4 ± 0.2 mm/s, 2.0 ± 0.9 mm/s, 4.1 ± 1.9 mm/s in slow, medium, fast, respectively). In separate experiments, medial gastrocnemius motor unit recruitment thresholds and discharge frequencies were measured using fine-wire electromyography (EMG), together with surface EMG. Recruitment thresholds were lower in the fast (12.8 ± 9.2% MVC) and medium (14.5 ± 9.9% MVC) conditions compared to the slow (18.2 ± 8.9% MVC) condition. The initial discharge frequency was lower in the slow (5.8 ± 3.1 Hz) than the fast (6.7 ± 1.4 Hz), but not than the medium (6.4 ± 2.4 Hz) condition. The surface EMG was greater in the fast (mean RMS: 0.029 ± 0.017 mV) compared to the slow condition (0.019 ± 0.013 mV). We propose that the increase in muscle fascicle shortening velocity reduces the force-generating capacity of the muscle, therefore requiring greater neural drive to generate the same forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Aeles
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Laboratory "Movement, Interactions, Performance" (EA 4334), University of Nantes, Nantes, France.
| | - M Bellett
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - G A Lichtwark
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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3
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Bell M, Al Masruri G, Fernandez J, Williams SA, Agur AM, Stott NS, Hajarizadeh B, Mirjalili A. Typical m. triceps surae morphology and architecture measurement from 0 to 18 years: A narrative review. J Anat 2021; 240:746-760. [PMID: 34750816 PMCID: PMC8930835 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13584] [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: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this review was to report on the imaging modalities used to assess morphological and architectural properties of the m. triceps surae muscle in typically developing children, and the available reliability analyses. Scopus and MEDLINE (Pubmed) were searched systematically for all original articles published up to September 2020 measuring morphological and architectural properties of the m. triceps surae in typically developing children (18 years or under). Thirty eligible studies were included in this analysis, measuring fibre bundle length (FBL) (n = 11), pennation angle (PA) (n = 10), muscle volume (MV) (n = 16) and physiological cross‐sectional area (PCSA) (n = 4). Three primary imaging modalities were utilised to assess these architectural parameters in vivo: two‐dimensional ultrasound (2DUS; n = 12), three‐dimensional ultrasound (3DUS; n = 9) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; n = 6). The mean age of participants ranged from 1.4 years to 18 years old. There was an apparent increase in m. gastrocnemius medialis MV and pCSA with age; however, no trend was evident with FBL or PA. Analysis of correlations of muscle variables with age was limited by a lack of longitudinal data and methodological variations between studies affecting outcomes. Only five studies evaluated the reliability of the methods. Imaging methodologies such as MRI and US may provide valuable insight into the development of skeletal muscle from childhood to adulthood; however, variations in methodological approaches can significantly influence outcomes. Researchers wishing to develop a model of typical muscle development should carry out longitudinal architectural assessment of all muscles comprising the m. triceps surae utilising a consistent approach that minimises confounding errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Bell
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ghaliya Al Masruri
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Justin Fernandez
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Engineering Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sîan A Williams
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.,Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Anne M Agur
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ngaire S Stott
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Ali Mirjalili
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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4
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Age-related changes to triceps surae muscle-subtendon interaction dynamics during walking. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21264. [PMID: 34711893 PMCID: PMC8553842 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00451-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Push-off intensity is largely governed by the forces generated by the triceps surae (TS) muscles (gastrocnemius-GAS, soleus-SOL). During walking, the TS muscles undergo different fascicle kinematics and contribute differently to biomechanical subtasks. These differences may be facilitated by the Achilles tendon (AT), which is comprised of subtendons that originate from the TS muscles. We and others have revealed non-uniform displacement patterns within the AT—evidence for sliding between subtendons that may facilitate independent muscle actuation. However, in older adults, we have observed more uniform AT tissue displacements that correlate with reduced push-off intensity. Here, we employed dual-probe ultrasound imaging to investigate TS muscle length change heterogeneity (GAS–SOL) as a determinant of reduced push-off intensity in older adults. Compared to young, older adults walked with more uniform AT tissue displacements and reduced TS muscle length change heterogeneity. These muscle-level differences appeared to negatively impact push-off intensity—evidenced by between-group differences in the extent to which TS muscle length change heterogeneity correlates with mechanical output across walking tasks. Our findings suggest that the capacity for sliding between subtendons may facilitate independent TS muscle actuation in young adults but may restrict that actuation in older adults, likely contributing to reduced push-off intensity.
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5
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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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6
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Maximal and submaximal isometric torque is elevated immediately following highly controlled active stretches of the hamstrings. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2021; 56:102500. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2020.102500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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7
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Clark WH, Pimentel RE, Franz JR. Imaging and Simulation of Inter-muscular Differences in Triceps Surae Contributions to Forward Propulsion During Walking. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:703-715. [PMID: 32897456 PMCID: PMC8020010 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02594-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Forward propulsion during the push-off phase of walking is largely governed at the ankle by differential neuromechanical contributions from the biarticular medial (MG) and lateral gastrocnemii (LG) and the uniarticular soleus (SOL). However, the relative contribution of these individual muscles to forward propulsion is equivocal, with important implications for the design and control of wearable assistive devices and for targeted therapeutics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between empirical and model-predicted triceps surae (i.e., MG, LG, and SOL) contributions to forward propulsion during walking using conditions that systematically manipulated both walking speed and the mechanical demand for forward propulsion at a fixed speed-through the use of aiding and impeding forces. Ten young adults (age: 24.1 ± 3.6 years, 6M/4F) participated. We found that muscle-specific responses derived from experimental measurements (i.e., activation and fascicle behavior) were consistent with those derived from musculoskeletal simulations (i.e., muscle force and positive mechanical work) within the same subjects. In vivo, compared to walking normally, only LG muscle activation was affected by both aiding and impeding forces. Similarly, increased propulsive demand elicited greater relative fascicle shortening in the MG but not the SOL. In silico, only MG and LG force and positive mechanical work increased significantly to meet the increased demands for forward propulsion. By combining electromyography, ultrasound imaging, and musculoskeletal modeling in the same subjects, our cumulative findings suggest that the biarticular gastrocnemius muscles play a more significant role than the uniarticular soleus in governing changes in forward propulsion during the mid to late stance phase of walking.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Clark
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, 10010 Mary Ellen Jones, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Richard E Pimentel
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, 10010 Mary Ellen Jones, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jason R Franz
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, 10010 Mary Ellen Jones, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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8
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Drazan JF, Hullfish TJ, Baxter JR. An automatic fascicle tracking algorithm quantifying gastrocnemius architecture during maximal effort contractions. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7120. [PMID: 31304054 PMCID: PMC6611451 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ultrasound has become a commonly used imaging modality for making dynamic measurements of muscle structure during functional movements in biomechanical studies. Manual measurements of fascicle length and pennation angle are time intensive which limits the clinical utility of this approach while also limiting sample sizes in research. The purpose of this study was to develop an automatic fascicle tracking program to quantify the length and pennation angle of a muscle fascicle during maximal effort voluntary contractions and to evaluate its repeatability between days and reproducibility between different examiners. Methods Five healthy adults performed maximal effort isometric and isokinetic contractions at 30, 120, 210, and 500 degrees per second about their ankle on an isokinetic dynamometer while their medial gastrocnemius muscle was observed using ultrasound. Individual muscle fascicles and the two aponeuroses were identified by the user in the first frame and automatically tracked by the algorithm by three observers on three separate days. Users also made manual measurements of the candidate fascicle for validation. Repeatability within examiners across days and reproducibility across examiners and days were evaluated using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Agreement between manual and automatic tracking was evaluated using the coefficient of multiple correlations (CMC) and root-mean-square error. Supervised automatic tracking, where the program could be reinitialized if poor tracking was observed, was performed on all videos by one examiner to evaluate the performance of automatic tracking in a typical use case. We also compared the performance our program to a preexisting automatic tracking program. Results We found both manual and automatic measurements of fascicle length and pennation angle to be strongly repeatable within examiners and strongly reproducible across examiners and days (ICCs > 0.74). There was greater agreement between manual and automatic measurements of fascicle length than pennation angle, however the mean CMC value was found to be strong in both cases (CMC > 0.8). Supervision of automatic tracking showed very strong agreement between manual and automatic measurements of fascicle length and pennation angle (CMC > 0.94). It also had considerably less error relative to the preexisting automatic tracking program. Conclusions We have developed a novel automatic fascicle tracking algorithm that quantifies fascicle length and pennation angle of individual muscle fascicles during dynamic contractions during isometric and across a range of isokinetic velocities. We demonstrated that this fascicle tracking algorithm is strongly repeatable and reproducible across different examiners and different days and showed strong agreement with manual measurements, especially when tracking is supervised by the user so that tracking can be reinitialized if poor tracking quality is observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Drazan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Todd J Hullfish
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Josh R Baxter
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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9
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Swinnen W, Hoogkamer W, Delabastita T, Aeles J, De Groote F, Vanwanseele B. Effect of habitual foot-strike pattern on the gastrocnemius medialis muscle-tendon interaction and muscle force production during running. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2019; 126:708-716. [PMID: 30629477 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00768.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle and Achilles tendon, i.e., muscle-tendon unit (MTU) interaction, plays an important role in minimizing the metabolic cost of running. Foot-strike pattern (FSP) has been suggested to alter MTU interaction and subsequently the metabolic cost of running. However, metabolic data from experimental studies on FSP are inconsistent, and a comparison of MTU interaction between FSP is still lacking. We, therefore, investigated the effect of habitual rearfoot and mid-/forefoot striking on MTU interaction, ankle joint work, and plantar flexor muscle force production while running at 10 and 14 km/h. GM muscle fascicles of 9 rearfoot and 10 mid-/forefoot strikers were tracked using dynamic ultrasonography during treadmill running. We collected kinetic and kinematic data and used musculoskeletal models to determine joint angles and calculate MTU lengths. In addition, we used dynamic optimization to assess plantar flexor muscle forces. During ground contact, GM fascicle shortening ( P = 0.02) and average contraction velocity ( P = 0.01) were 40-45% greater in rearfoot strikers than mid-/forefoot strikers. Differences in contraction velocity were especially prominent during early ground contact. Moreover, GM ( P = 0.02) muscle force was greater during early ground contact in mid-/forefoot strikers than rearfoot strikers. Interestingly, we did not find differences in stretch or recoil of the series elastic element between FSP. Our results suggest that, for the GM, the reduced muscle energy cost associated with lower fascicle contraction velocity in mid-/forefoot strikers may be counteracted by greater muscle forces during early ground contact. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Kinetic and kinematic differences between foot-strike patterns during running imply (not previously reported) altered muscle-tendon interaction. Here, we studied muscle-tendon interaction using ultrasonography. We found greater fascicle contraction velocities and lower muscle forces in rearfoot compared with mid-/forefoot strikers. Our results suggest that the higher metabolic energy demand due to greater fascicle contraction velocities might offset the lower metabolic energy demand due to lower muscle forces in rearfoot compared with mid-/forefoot strikers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wannes Swinnen
- Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Wouter Hoogkamer
- Locomotion Laboratory, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder, Colorado
| | - Tijs Delabastita
- Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Jeroen Aeles
- Centre for Sensorimotor Performance, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia
| | - Friedl De Groote
- Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Benedicte Vanwanseele
- Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
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10
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Franchi MV, Raiteri BJ, Longo S, Sinha S, Narici MV, Csapo R. Muscle Architecture Assessment: Strengths, Shortcomings and New Frontiers of in Vivo Imaging Techniques. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2018; 44:2492-2504. [PMID: 30185385 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle structural assembly (and its remodeling in response to loading-unloading states) can be investigated macroscopically by assessing muscle architecture, described as fascicle geometric disposition within the muscle. Over recent decades, various medical imaging techniques have been developed to facilitate the in vivo assessment of muscle architecture. However, the main advantages and limitations of these methodologies have been fragmentally discussed. In the present article, the main techniques used for the evaluation of muscle architecture are presented: conventional B-mode ultrasonography, extended-field-of-view ultrasound, 3-D ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging-based diffusion tensor imaging. By critically discussing potentials and shortcomings of each methodology, we aim to provide readers with an overview of both established and new techniques for the in vivo assessment of muscle architecture. This review may serve as decision guidance facilitating selection of the appropriate technique to be applied in biomedical research or clinical routine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martino V Franchi
- Laboratory for Muscle Plasticity, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Sports Medicine Research, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | | | - Stefano Longo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Shantanu Sinha
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Marco V Narici
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Robert Csapo
- Research Unit for Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention, Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine & Health Tourism (ISAG), University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall, Austria
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11
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Werkhausen A, Albracht K, Cronin NJ, Paulsen G, Bojsen-Møller J, Seynnes OR. Effect of Training-Induced Changes in Achilles Tendon Stiffness on Muscle-Tendon Behavior During Landing. Front Physiol 2018; 9:794. [PMID: 29997526 PMCID: PMC6028711 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
During rapid deceleration of the body, tendons buffer part of the elongation of the muscle–tendon unit (MTU), enabling safe energy dissipation via eccentric muscle contraction. Yet, the influence of changes in tendon stiffness within the physiological range upon these lengthening contractions is unknown. This study aimed to examine the effect of training-induced stiffening of the Achilles tendon on triceps surae muscle–tendon behavior during a landing task. Twenty-one male subjects were assigned to either a 10-week resistance-training program consisting of single-leg isometric plantarflexion (n = 11) or to a non-training control group (n = 10). Before and after the training period, plantarflexion force, peak Achilles tendon strain and stiffness were measured during isometric contractions, using a combination of dynamometry, ultrasound and kinematics data. Additionally, testing included a step-landing task, during which joint mechanics and lengths of gastrocnemius and soleus fascicles, Achilles tendon, and MTU were determined using synchronized ultrasound, kinematics and kinetics data collection. After training, plantarflexion strength and Achilles tendon stiffness increased (15 and 18%, respectively), and tendon strain during landing remained similar. Likewise, lengthening and negative work produced by the gastrocnemius MTU did not change detectably. However, in the training group, gastrocnemius fascicle length was offset (8%) to a longer length at touch down and, surprisingly, fascicle lengthening and velocity were reduced by 27 and 21%, respectively. These changes were not observed for soleus fascicles when accounting for variation in task execution between tests. These results indicate that a training-induced increase in tendon stiffness does not noticeably affect the buffering action of the tendon when the MTU is rapidly stretched. Reductions in gastrocnemius fascicle lengthening and lengthening velocity during landing occurred independently from tendon strain. Future studies are required to provide insight into the mechanisms underpinning these observations and their influence on energy dissipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Werkhausen
- Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kirsten Albracht
- Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany
| | - Neil J Cronin
- Neuromuscular Research Centre, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Gøran Paulsen
- The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jens Bojsen-Møller
- Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olivier R Seynnes
- Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
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