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Journal articles on the topic 'Fascicle mechanics'
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1
Wakeling, James M., Meghan Jackman, and Ana I. Namburete. "The Effect of External Compression on the Mechanics of Muscle Contraction." Journal of Applied Biomechanics 29, no. 3 (June 2013): 360–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jab.29.3.360.
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The velocity at which a muscle fascicle will shorten, and hence the force that it can develop, depends on its gearing within the muscle belly. Muscle fascicle length depends on both its pennation and the thickness of the muscle. It was expected that external compression would reduce the muscle thickness and pennation and thus cause a reduction to the gearing of the fascicles relative to the muscle belly. Structural properties of the medial gastrocnemius muscle were visualized using B-mode ultrasound in six subjects. Measurements were taken during cyclical isotonic contractions at three different ankle torques and with the application of no, one, or two elastic compression bandages to the lower leg. Ankle torques and angular velocities were unaffected by the external compression. External compression did, however, reduce the muscle thickness and the fascicle pennation and resulted in a decrease in the gearing within the muscle belly. Reductions in gearing would result in an increase in the muscle fascicle shortening velocity that would reduce the force-generating potential of the fascicles. It is suggested that externally applied compression should not be considered a way to enhance muscle performance when based on the structural mechanics.
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Brennan, Scott F., Andrew G. Cresswell, Dominic J. Farris, and Glen A. Lichtwark. "The effect of muscle-tendon unit vs. fascicle analyses on vastus lateralis force-generating capacity during constant power output cycling with variable cadence." Journal of Applied Physiology 124, no. 4 (April 1, 2018): 993–1002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00356.2017.
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The maximum force-generating capacity of a muscle is dependent on the lengths and velocities of its contractile apparatus. Muscle-tendon unit (MTU) length changes can be estimated from joint kinematics; however, contractile element length changes are more difficult to predict during dynamic contractions. The aim of this study was to compare vastus lateralis (VL) MTU and fascicle level force-length and force-velocity relationships, and dynamic muscle function while cycling at a constant submaximal power output (2.5 W/kg) with different cadences. We hypothesized that manipulating cadence at a constant power output would not affect VL MTU shortening, but significantly affect VL fascicle shortening. Furthermore, these differences would affect the predicted force capacity of the muscle. Using an isokinetic dynamometer and B-mode ultrasound (US), we determined the force-length and force-velocity properties of the VL MTU and its fascicles. In addition, three-dimensional kinematics and kinetics of the lower limb, as well as US images of VL fascicles were collected during submaximal cycling at cadences of 40, 60, 80, and 100 rotations per minute. Ultrasound measures revealed a significant increase in fascicle shortening as cadence decreased (84% increase across all conditions, P < 0.01), whereas there were no significant differences in MTU lengths across any of the cycling conditions (maximum of 6%). The MTU analysis resulted in greater predicted force capacity across all conditions relative to the force-velocity relationship ( P < 0.01). These results reinforce the need to determine muscle mechanics in terms of separate contractile element and connective tissue length changes during isokinetic contractions, as well as dynamic movements like cycling. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that vastus lateralis (VL) muscle tendon unit (MTU) length changes do not adequately reflect the underlying fascicle mechanics during cycling. When examined across different pedaling cadence conditions, the force-generating potential measured only at the level of MTU (or joint) overestimated the maximum force capacity of VL compared with analysis using fascicle level data.
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Farris, Dominic James, Benjamin D. Robertson, and Gregory S. Sawicki. "Elastic ankle exoskeletons reduce soleus muscle force but not work in human hopping." Journal of Applied Physiology 115, no. 5 (September 1, 2013): 579–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00253.2013.
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Inspired by elastic energy storage and return in tendons of human leg muscle-tendon units (MTU), exoskeletons often place a spring in parallel with an MTU to assist the MTU. However, this might perturb the normally efficient MTU mechanics and actually increase active muscle mechanical work. This study tested the effects of elastic parallel assistance on MTU mechanics. Participants hopped with and without spring-loaded ankle exoskeletons that assisted plantar flexion. An inverse dynamics analysis, combined with in vivo ultrasound imaging of soleus fascicles and surface electromyography, was used to determine muscle-tendon mechanics and activations. Whole body net metabolic power was obtained from indirect calorimetry. When hopping with spring-loaded exoskeletons, soleus activation was reduced (30–70%) and so was the magnitude of soleus force (peak force reduced by 30%) and the average rate of soleus force generation (by 50%). Although forces were lower, average positive fascicle power remained unchanged, owing to increased fascicle excursion (+4–5 mm). Net metabolic power was reduced with exoskeleton assistance (19%). These findings highlighted that parallel assistance to a muscle with appreciable series elasticity may have some negative consequences, and that the metabolic cost associated with generating force may be more pronounced than the cost of doing work for these muscles.
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De Brito Fontana, Heiliane, and Walter Herzog. "Fascicle shortening upon activation in voluntary human muscle contractions." Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior 17, no. 5 (September 30, 2023): 238–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.20338/bjmb.v17i5.380.
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BACKGROUND: The dependence of fascicle length on complex interactions with joint angle and force challenges the interpretation of in vivo joint mechanics, muscle mechanical properties, contractile behavior, and muscle function. AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the complex interaction between muscle activation, joint angle, and fascicle length for isometric contractions of the human vastus lateralis muscle (VL). METHOD: Knee extensor torques, joint angles, EMG activation, and fascicle lengths were determined in nine healthy subjects during maximal and submaximal isometric contractions. RESULTS: Fascicle shortening during isometric contractions depended on muscle-tendon unit length/joint angle and activation, reaching a maximum between angles where VL had its maximum force potential and minimum resistance to fascicle shortening. Maximal fascicle shortening shifted to shorter muscle-tendon unit lengths with decreasing activation. CONCLUSION: Fascicle shortening upon activation depends crucially on the force generating potential and stiffness of the muscle and can reach 30% of the resting fascicle length. Not accounting for the complex interactions between muscle length, force potential, muscle structure, and muscle stiffness has led to erroneous interpretations of the function and properties of healthy and diseased muscles.
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Lai, Adrian, Anthony G. Schache, Nicholas A. T. Brown, and Marcus G. Pandy. "Human ankle plantar flexor muscle–tendon mechanics and energetics during maximum acceleration sprinting." Journal of The Royal Society Interface 13, no. 121 (August 2016): 20160391. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2016.0391.
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Tendon elastic strain energy is the dominant contributor to muscle–tendon work during steady-state running. Does this behaviour also occur for sprint accelerations? We used experimental data and computational modelling to quantify muscle fascicle work and tendon elastic strain energy for the human ankle plantar flexors (specifically soleus and medial gastrocnemius) for multiple foot contacts of a maximal sprint as well as for running at a steady-state speed. Positive work done by the soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicles decreased incrementally throughout the maximal sprint and both muscles performed more work for the first foot contact of the maximal sprint (FC1) compared with steady-state running at 5 m s −1 (SS5). However, the differences in tendon strain energy for both muscles were negligible throughout the maximal sprint and when comparing FC1 to SS5. Consequently, the contribution of muscle fascicle work to stored tendon elastic strain energy was greater for FC1 compared with subsequent foot contacts of the maximal sprint and compared with SS5. We conclude that tendon elastic strain energy in the ankle plantar flexors is just as vital at the start of a maximal sprint as it is at the end, and as it is for running at a constant speed.
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Roberts, T. J., M. S. Chen, and C. R. Taylor. "Energetics of bipedal running. II. Limb design and running mechanics." Journal of Experimental Biology 201, no. 19 (October 1, 1998): 2753–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.201.19.2753.
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Compared with quadrupeds, bipedal runners of the same weight have longer legs, take longer steps and can presumably use slower, more economical muscle fibers. One might predict that bipedal running is less expensive, but it is not. We hypothesized that bipeds recruit a larger volume of muscle to support their weight, eliminating the potential economy of longer legs and slower steps. To test our hypothesis, we calculated the relative volume of muscle needed to support body weight over a stride in small dogs (Canis familiaris) and wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) of the same weight. First, we confirmed that turkeys and dogs use approximately the same amount of energy to run at the same speed, and found that turkeys take 1. 8-fold longer steps. Higher muscle forces and/or longer muscle fibers would require a greater volume of active muscle, since muscle volume is proportional to the product of force and fascicle length. We measured both mean fascicle length and mean mechanical advantage for limb extensor muscles. Turkeys generated approximately the same total muscle force to support their weight during running and used muscle fascicles that are on average 2.1 times as long as in dogs, thus requiring a 2.5-fold greater active muscle volume. The greater volume appears to offset the economy of slower rates of force generation, supporting our hypothesis and providing a simple explanation for why it costs the same to run on two and four legs.
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Wakeling, James M., Katrin Uehli, and Antra I. Rozitis. "Muscle fibre recruitment can respond to the mechanics of the muscle contraction." Journal of The Royal Society Interface 3, no. 9 (February 10, 2006): 533–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2006.0113.
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This study investigates the motor unit recruitment patterns between and within muscles of the triceps surae during cycling on a stationary ergometer at a range of pedal speeds and resistances. Muscle activity was measured from the soleus (SOL), medial gastrocnemius (MG) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) using surface electromyography (EMG) and quantified using wavelet and principal component analysis. Muscle fascicle strain rates were quantified using ultrasonography, and the muscle–tendon unit lengths were calculated from the segmental kinematics. The EMG intensities showed that the body uses the SOL relatively more for the higher-force, lower-velocity contractions than the MG and LG. The EMG spectra showed a shift to higher frequencies at faster muscle fascicle strain rates for MG: these shifts were independent of the level of muscle activity, the locomotor load and the muscle fascicle strain. These results indicated that a selective recruitment of the faster motor units occurred within the MG muscle in response to the increasing muscle fascicle strain rates. This preferential recruitment of the faster fibres for the faster tasks indicates that in some circumstances motor unit recruitment during locomotion can match the contractile properties of the muscle fibres to the mechanical demands of the contraction.
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Shin, David D., John A. Hodgson, V. Reggie Edgerton, and Shantanu Sinha. "In vivo intramuscular fascicle-aponeuroses dynamics of the human medial gastrocnemius during plantarflexion and dorsiflexion of the foot." Journal of Applied Physiology 107, no. 4 (October 2009): 1276–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.91598.2008.
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Velocity-encoded phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques and a computer-controlled MR-compatible foot pedal device were used to investigate the medial gastrocnemius muscle and aponeurosis deformations during passive and active eccentric movements of the plantarflexors. Intrafascicular strain, measured as the ratio of strain in the fascicle segment at its insertion to strain at its origin, was nonuniform along the proximodistal axis of the muscle ( P < 0.01), progressively increasing from the proximal to distal direction. The high intrafascicular strain regions appeared to correlate with the muscle regions that are likely to encounter high stress concentrations, i.e., the regions where the muscle physiological cross section decreases close to the tendons. The architectural gear ratio, i.e., the mechanical amplification ratio of fascicle length displacement to that of tendon/aponeuroses in a pennate muscle, also exhibited significant regional differences, with the highest ratios in the proximal region of the muscle accompanied by a higher initial pennation angle and a larger range of fascicular rotation about the origin. Values close to unity in the distal region of the muscle suggest that the aponeurosis separation may decrease in this region. Fascicle length and pennation angle changes were significantly influenced by force generation in the muscle, probably due to a shortening of the loaded muscle fibers relative to a passive condition. Overall, our data illustrate significant proximodistal intramuscular heterogeneity as supported by a regionally variable end-to-end strain ratio of fascicles and angle changes in the medial gastrocnemius muscle during passive and active ankle movements. These observations emphasize the need to reassess current conceptual models of muscle-tendon mechanics.
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Valadão, P., S. Kurokawa, T. Finni, and J. Avela. "Effects of muscle action type on corticospinal excitability and triceps surae muscle-tendon mechanics." Journal of Neurophysiology 119, no. 2 (February 1, 2018): 563–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00079.2017.
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This study investigated whether the specific motor control strategy reported for eccentric muscle actions is dependent on muscle mechanical behavior. Motor evoked potentials, Hoffman reflex (H-reflex), fascicle length, pennation angle, and fascicle velocity of soleus muscle were compared between isometric and two eccentric conditions. Ten volunteers performed maximal plantarflexion trials in isometric, slow eccentric (25°/s), and fast eccentric (100°/s) conditions, each in a different randomized testing session. H-reflex normalized by the preceding M wave (H/M) was depressed in both eccentric conditions compared with isometric ( P < 0.001), while no differences in fascicle length and pennation angle were found among conditions. Furthermore, although the fast eccentric condition had greater fascicle velocity than slow eccentric ( P = 0.001), there were no differences in H/M. There were no differences in motor evoked potential size between conditions, and silent period was shorter for both eccentric conditions compared with isometric ( P = 0.009). Taken together, the present results corroborate the hypothesis that the central nervous system has an unique activation strategy during eccentric muscle actions and suggest that sensory feedback does not play an important role in modulating these muscle actions. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study provides new insight into the motor control of eccentric muscle actions. It was demonstrated that task-dependent corticospinal excitability modulation does not seem to depend on sensory information processing. These findings support the hypothesis that the central nervous system has a unique activation strategy during eccentric muscle actions.
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Dabrowska, Sylwia, Krzysztof Grabowski, and Andrzej Mlyniec. "Rehydration of the Tendon Fascicle Bundles Using Simulated Body Fluid Ensures Stable Mechanical Properties of the Samples." Materials 15, no. 9 (April 21, 2022): 3033. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ma15093033.
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In this work, we investigate the influence of dehydration and subsequent rehydration of tendon fascicle bundles on their structural and mechanical properties by using distilled water, 0.9% NaCl, 10% NaCl, SBF, and double concentrated SBF (SBFx2). The properties of tendon fascicle bundles were investigated by means of uniaxial tests with relaxation periods and hysteresis for samples with various interfascicular matrix content, dissected from the anterior and posterior areas of bovine tendon. Uniaxial tests with relaxation periods and analysis of sample geometry and weight showed that dehydration alters the modulus of elasticity dependent on the interfascicular matrix content and influences the viscoelastic properties of tendon fascicle bundles. Tensile and relaxation tests revealed that changes resulting from excessive sample drying can be reversed by rehydration in an SBF bath solution for elastic strain range above the toe region. Rehydration in SBF solution led to minor differences in mechanical properties when compared to control samples. Moreover, anterior samples with greater interfascicular matrix content, despite their lower stiffness, are less sensitive to sample drying. The obtained results allow us to limit the discrepancies in the measurement of mechanical properties of wet biological samples and can be useful to researchers investigating soft tissue mechanics and the stability of transplant materials.
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Dick, Taylor J. M., and James M. Wakeling. "Geometric models to explore mechanisms of dynamic shape change in skeletal muscle." Royal Society Open Science 5, no. 5 (May 2018): 172371. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.172371.
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Skeletal muscle bulges when it contracts. These three-dimensional (3D) dynamic shape changes play an important role in muscle performance by altering the range of fascicle velocities over which a muscle operates. However traditional muscle models are one-dimensional (1D) and cannot fully explain in vivo shape changes. In this study we compared medial gastrocnemius behaviour during human cycling (fascicle length changes and rotations) predicted by a traditional 1D Hill-type model and by models that incorporate two-dimensional (2D) and 3D geometric constraints to in vivo measurements from B-mode ultrasound during a range of mechanical conditions ranging from 14 to 44 N m and 80 to 140 r.p.m. We found that a 1D model predicted fascicle lengths and pennation angles similar to a 2D model that allowed the aponeurosis to stretch, and to a 3D model that allowed for aponeurosis stretch and variable shape changes to occur. This suggests that if the intent of a model is to predict fascicle behaviour alone, then the traditional 1D Hill-type model may be sufficient. Yet, we also caution that 1D models are limited in their ability to infer the mechanisms by which shape changes influence muscle mechanics. To elucidate the mechanisms governing muscle shape change, future efforts should aim to develop imaging techniques able to characterize whole muscle 3D geometry in vivo during active contractions.
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Kong, Xiang Qing, and Cheng Wei Wu. "Micronano Structure and Mechanics Behavior of Mosquito’s Proboscis Biomaterials with Applications to Microneedle Design." Advanced Materials Research 299-300 (July 2011): 376–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.299-300.376.
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The mouthparts of female mosquitoes have evolved to form a special proboscis, a natural biomicroelectromechanical system, which is used for painlessly penetrating human skin and sucking blood. The structure of the mosquito fascicle is observed using a scanning electron microscope, and the mechanical property of the labrum and maxillae, two of the most important parts of the mosquito’s fascicle is studied. The micronano structure and the special biomaterials of the mosquito’s proboscis make the mosquito penetrate easily into human skin with a surprising low force, which is measured to be only tens of micro-Newton. Our obtained results are helpful for the optimum design of the microneedles and transdermal drug delivery system.
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Rumini, Adi S, and Donny Wira Yudha Kusuma. "The Mechanics of Speed: A Systematic Literature Review on Athletic Sprint Techniques." Physical Education Theory and Methodology 24, no. 6 (December 6, 2024): 990–96. https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2024.6.17.
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Objectives. This study aimed to collect and analyze findings from research on athletic sprinting techniques through a biomechanics approach to provide an in-depth understanding of effective technique and biomechanical factors that influence sprint performance. Materials and methods. This review inquiry adhered to the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The studies should have been published between January 2020 and August 2025, which encompassed the previous five years. The following keywords were used in the search process: Techniques for Athletic Sprinting. The search was conducted using the ScienceDirect database. Results. The search process showed the following results: set position — 2 articles, hip angle — 3 articles, shorter time — 2 articles, fascicle length — 1 article, knee flexor — 3 articles, and hamstring length — 2 articles. Conclusions. The center of mass and contact time along with force application to the back block are critical toacceleration. Muscle properties, such as fascicle length, and joint motion (ankle, hip, and BCM), in addition to trunk, knee, and hip angles, define sprint mechanics.
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Smart, Rowan R., Cydney M. Richardson, Daryl J. Wile, Brian H. Dalton, and Jennifer M. Jakobi. "Importance of Maximal Strength and Muscle-Tendon Mechanics for Improving Force Steadiness in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease." Brain Sciences 10, no. 8 (July 22, 2020): 471. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10080471.
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Although plantar flexion force steadiness (FS) is reduced in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD), the underlying causes are unknown. The aim of this exploratory design study was to ascertain the influence of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force and gastrocnemius-Achilles muscle-tendon unit behaviour on FS in persons with PD. Nine persons with PD and nine age- and sex-matched non-PD controls (~70 years, 6 females per group) performed plantar flexion MVCs and sub-maximal tracking tasks at 5, 10, 25, 50 and 75% MVC. Achilles tendon elongation and medial gastrocnemius fascicle lengths were recorded via ultrasound during contraction. FS was quantified using the coefficient of variation (CV) of force. Contributions of MVC and tendon mechanics to FS were determined using multiple regression analyses. Persons with PD were 35% weaker during MVC (p = 0.04) and had 97% greater CV (p = 0.01) with 47% less fascicle shortening (p = 0.004) and 38% less tendon elongation (p = 0.002) than controls. Reduced strength was a direct contributor to lower FS in PD (ß = 0.631), and an indirect factor through limiting optimal muscle-tendon unit interaction. Interestingly, our findings indicate an uncoupling between fascicle shortening and tendon elongation in persons with PD. To better understand limitations in FS and muscle-tendon unit behavior, it is imperative to identify the origins of MVC decrements in persons with PD.
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Werkhausen, Amelie, Neil J. Cronin, Kirsten Albracht, Gøran Paulsen, Askild V. Larsen, Jens Bojsen-Møller, and Olivier R. Seynnes. "Training-induced increase in Achilles tendon stiffness affects tendon strain pattern during running." PeerJ 7 (April 24, 2019): e6764. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6764.
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Background During the stance phase of running, the elasticity of the Achilles tendon enables the utilisation of elastic energy and allows beneficial contractile conditions for the triceps surae muscles. However, the effect of changes in tendon mechanical properties induced by chronic loading is still poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that a training-induced increase in Achilles tendon stiffness would result in reduced tendon strain during the stance phase of running, which would reduce fascicle strains in the triceps surae muscles, particularly in the mono-articular soleus. Methods Eleven subjects were assigned to a training group performing isometric single-leg plantarflexion contractions three times per week for ten weeks, and another ten subjects formed a control group. Before and after the training period, Achilles tendon stiffness was estimated, and muscle-tendon mechanics were assessed during running at preferred speed using ultrasonography, kinematics and kinetics. Results Achilles tendon stiffness increased by 18% (P < 0.01) in the training group, but the associated reduction in strain seen during isometric contractions was not statistically significant. Tendon elongation during the stance phase of running was similar after training, but tendon recoil was reduced by 30% (P < 0.01), while estimated tendon force remained unchanged. Neither gastrocnemius medialis nor soleus fascicle shortening during stance was affected by training. Discussion These results show that a training-induced increase in Achilles tendon stiffness altered tendon behaviour during running. Despite training-induced changes in tendon mechanical properties and recoil behaviour, the data suggest that fascicle shortening patterns were preserved for the running speed that we examined. The asymmetrical changes in tendon strain patterns supports the notion that simple in-series models do not fully explain the mechanical output of the muscle-tendon unit during a complex task like running.
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Blazevich, A. J., D. Cannavan, C. M. Waugh, S. C. Miller, J. B. Thorlund, P. Aagaard, and A. D. Kay. "Range of motion, neuromechanical, and architectural adaptations to plantar flexor stretch training in humans." Journal of Applied Physiology 117, no. 5 (September 1, 2014): 452–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00204.2014.
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The neuromuscular adaptations in response to muscle stretch training have not been clearly described. In the present study, changes in muscle (at fascicular and whole muscle levels) and tendon mechanics, muscle activity, and spinal motoneuron excitability were examined during standardized plantar flexor stretches after 3 wk of twice daily stretch training (4 × 30 s). No changes were observed in a nonexercising control group ( n = 9), however stretch training elicited a 19.9% increase in dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) and a 28% increase in passive joint moment at end ROM ( n = 12). Only a trend toward a decrease in passive plantar flexor moment during stretch (−9.9%; P = 0.15) was observed, and no changes in electromyographic amplitudes during ROM or at end ROM were detected. Decreases in Hmax:Mmax(tibial nerve stimulation) were observed at plantar flexed (gastrocnemius medialis and soleus) and neutral (soleus only) joint angles, but not with the ankle dorsiflexed. Muscle and fascicle strain increased (12 vs. 23%) along with a decrease in muscle stiffness (−18%) during stretch to a constant target joint angle. Muscle length at end ROM increased (13%) without a change in fascicle length, fascicle rotation, tendon elongation, or tendon stiffness following training. A lack of change in maximum voluntary contraction moment and rate of force development at any joint angle was taken to indicate a lack of change in series compliance of the muscle-tendon unit. Thus, increases in end ROM were underpinned by increases in maximum tolerable passive joint moment (stretch tolerance) and both muscle and fascicle elongation rather than changes in volitional muscle activation or motoneuron pool excitability.
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Beck, Owen N., Jonathan Gosyne, Jason R. Franz, and Gregory S. Sawicki. "Cyclically producing the same average muscle-tendon force with a smaller duty increases metabolic rate." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287, no. 1933 (August 19, 2020): 20200431. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.0431.
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Ground contact duration and stride frequency each affect muscle metabolism and help scientists link walking and running biomechanics to metabolic energy expenditure. While these parameters are often used independently, the product of ground contact duration and stride frequency (i.e. duty factor) may affect muscle contractile mechanics. Here, we sought to separate the metabolic influence of the duration of active force production, cycle frequency and duty factor. Human participants produced cyclic contractions using their soleus (which has a relatively homogeneous fibre type composition) at prescribed cycle-average ankle moments on a fixed dynamometer. Participants produced these ankle moments over short, medium and long durations while maintaining a constant cycle frequency. Overall, decreased duty factor did not affect cycle-average fascicle force ( p ≥ 0.252) but did increase net metabolic power ( p ≤ 0.022). Mechanistically, smaller duty factors increased maximum muscle-tendon force ( p < 0.001), further stretching in-series tendons and shifting soleus fascicles to shorter lengths and faster velocities, thereby increasing soleus total active muscle volume ( p < 0.001). Participant soleus total active muscle volume well-explained net metabolic power ( r = 0.845; p < 0.001). Therefore, cyclically producing the same cycle-average muscle-tendon force using a decreased duty factor increases metabolic energy expenditure by eliciting less economical muscle contractile mechanics.
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Thorpe, Chavaunne T., Chineye P. Udeze, Helen L. Birch, Peter D. Clegg, and Hazel R. C. Screen. "Specialization of tendon mechanical properties results from interfascicular differences." Journal of The Royal Society Interface 9, no. 76 (July 4, 2012): 3108–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2012.0362.
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Tendons transfer force from muscle to bone. Specific tendons, including the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), also store and return energy. For efficient function, energy-storing tendons need to be more extensible than positional tendons such as the common digital extensor tendon (CDET), and when tested in vitro have a lower modulus and failure stress, but a higher failure strain. It is not known how differences in matrix organization contribute to distinct mechanical properties in functionally different tendons. We investigated the properties of whole tendons, tendon fascicles and the fascicular interface in the high-strain energy-storing SDFT and low-strain positional CDET. Fascicles failed at lower stresses and strains than tendons. The SDFT was more extensible than the CDET, but SDFT fascicles failed at lower strains than CDET fascicles, resulting in large differences between tendon and fascicle failure strain in the SDFT. At physiological loads, the stiffness at the fascicular interface was lower in the SDFT samples, enabling a greater fascicle sliding that could account for differences in tendon and fascicle failure strain. Sliding between fascicles prior to fascicle extension in the SDFT may allow the large extensions required in energy-storing tendons while protecting fascicles from damage.
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Konow, Nicolai, and Thomas J. Roberts. "The series elastic shock absorber: tendon elasticity modulates energy dissipation by muscle during burst deceleration." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282, no. 1804 (April 7, 2015): 20142800. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.2800.
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During downhill running, manoeuvring, negotiation of obstacles and landings from a jump, mechanical energy is dissipated via active lengthening of limb muscles. Tendon compliance provides a ‘shock-absorber’ mechanism that rapidly absorbs mechanical energy and releases it more slowly as the recoil of the tendon does work to stretch muscle fascicles. By lowering the rate of muscular energy dissipation, tendon compliance likely reduces the risk of muscle injury that can result from rapid and forceful muscle lengthening. Here, we examine how muscle–tendon mechanics are modulated in response to changes in demand for energy dissipation. We measured lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscle activity, force and fascicle length, as well as leg joint kinematics and ground-reaction force, as turkeys performed drop-landings from three heights (0.5–1.5 m centre-of-mass elevation). Negative work by the LG muscle–tendon unit during landing increased with drop height, mainly owing to greater muscle recruitment and force as drop height increased. Although muscle strain did not increase with landing height, ankle flexion increased owing to increased tendon strain at higher muscle forces. Measurements of the length–tension relationship of the muscle indicated that the muscle reached peak force at shorter and likely safer operating lengths as drop height increased. Our results indicate that tendon compliance is important to the modulation of energy dissipation by active muscle with changes in demand and may provide a mechanism for rapid adjustment of function during deceleration tasks of unpredictable intensity.
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Werkhausen, Amelie, Neil J. Cronin, Kirsten Albracht, Jens Bojsen-Møller, and Olivier R. Seynnes. "Distinct muscle-tendon interaction during running at different speeds and in different loading conditions." Journal of Applied Physiology 127, no. 1 (July 1, 2019): 246–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00710.2018.
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The interaction between the Achilles tendon and the triceps surae muscles seems to be modulated differently with various task configurations. Here we tested the hypothesis that the increased forces and ankle joint work during running under contrasting conditions (altered speed or load) would be met by different, time-dependent adjustments at the muscle-tendon level. Ultrasonography, electromyography, kinematics, and ground reaction force measurements were used to examine Achilles tendon, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscle mechanics in 16 runners in four different running conditions, consisting of a combination of two different speeds (preferred and +20% of preferred speed) and two loading conditions (unloaded and +20% of body mass). Positive ankle joint work increased similarly (+13%) with speed and load. Gastrocnemius and soleus muscle fascicle length and peak velocity were not altered by either condition, suggesting that contractile conditions are mostly preserved despite the constraints imposed in this experimental design. However, at higher running speed, tendon length changes were unaltered but mean muscle electromyographic activity increased in gastrocnemius (+10%, P < 0.01) and soleus (+14%, P < 0.01). Conversely, when loading was increased, mean muscle activity remained similar to unloaded conditions but the mean velocity of gastrocnemius fascicles was reduced and tendon recoil increased (+29%, P < 0.01). Collectively, these results suggest that the neuromuscular system meets increased mechanical demands by favoring economical force production when enough time is available. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that muscle-tendon mechanics are adjusted differently when running under constraints imposed by speed or load, despite comparable increases in work. The neuromuscular system likely modulates the way force is produced as a function of availability of time and potential energy.
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Maden-Wilkinson, Thomas M., Thomas G. Balshaw, Garry J. Massey, and Jonathan P. Folland. "What makes long-term resistance-trained individuals so strong? A comparison of skeletal muscle morphology, architecture, and joint mechanics." Journal of Applied Physiology 128, no. 4 (April 1, 2020): 1000–1011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00224.2019.
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Here we demonstrate that the larger muscle strength (+60%) of a long-term (4+ yr) resistance-trained group compared with untrained controls was due to their similarly larger muscle volume (+56%), primarily due to a larger physiological cross-sectional area and modest differences in fascicle length, as well as modest differences in maximum voluntary specific tension and patella tendon moment arm. In addition, the present study refutes the possibility of regional hypertrophy, despite large differences in muscle volume.
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Rana, Manku, Ghassan Hamarneh, and James M. Wakeling. "3D curvature of muscle fascicles in triceps surae." Journal of Applied Physiology 117, no. 11 (December 1, 2014): 1388–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00109.2013.
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Muscle fascicles curve along their length, with the curvatures occurring around regions of high intramuscular pressure, and are necessary for mechanical stability. Fascicles are typically considered to lie in fascicle planes that are the planes visualized during dissection or two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound scans. However, it has previously been predicted that fascicles must curve in three-dimensional (3D) and thus the fascicle planes may actually exist as 3D sheets. 3D fascicle curvatures have not been explored in human musculature. Furthermore, if the fascicles do not lie in 2D planes, then this has implications for architectural measures that are derived from 2D ultrasound scans. The purpose of this study was to quantify the 3D curvatures of the muscle fascicles and fascicle sheets within the triceps surae muscles and to test whether these curvatures varied among different contraction levels, muscle length, and regions within the muscle. Six male subjects were tested for three torque levels (0, 30, and 60% maximal voluntary contraction) and four ankle angles (−15, 0, 15, and 30° plantar flexion), and fascicles were imaged using 3D ultrasound techniques. The fascicle curvatures significantly increased at higher ankle torques and shorter muscle lengths. The fascicle sheet curvatures were of similar magnitude to the fascicle curvatures but did not vary between contractions. Fascicle curvatures were regionalized within each muscle with the curvature facing the deeper aponeuroses, and this indicates a greater intramuscular pressure in the deeper layers of muscles. Muscle architectural measures may be in error when using 2D images for complex geometries such as the soleus.
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Hauraix, Hugo, Antoine Nordez, Gaël Guilhem, Giuseppe Rabita, and Sylvain Dorel. "In vivo maximal fascicle-shortening velocity during plantar flexion in humans." Journal of Applied Physiology 119, no. 11 (December 1, 2015): 1262–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00542.2015.
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Interindividual variability in performance of fast movements is commonly explained by a difference in maximal muscle-shortening velocity due to differences in the proportion of fast-twitch fibers. To provide a better understanding of the capacity to generate fast motion, this study aimed to 1) measure for the first time in vivo the maximal fascicle-shortening velocity of human muscle; 2) evaluate the relationship between angular velocity and fascicle-shortening velocity from low to maximal angular velocities; and 3) investigate the influence of musculo-articular features (moment arm, tendinous tissues stiffness, and muscle architecture) on maximal angular velocity. Ultrafast ultrasound images of the gastrocnemius medialis were obtained from 31 participants during maximal isokinetic and light-loaded plantar flexions. A strong linear relationship between fascicle-shortening velocity and angular velocity was reported for all subjects (mean R2 = 0.97). The maximal shortening velocity (VFmax) obtained during the no-load condition (NLc) ranged between 18.8 and 43.3 cm/s. VFmax values were very close to those of the maximal shortening velocity (Vmax), which was extrapolated from the F-V curve (the Hill model). Angular velocity reached during the NLc was significantly correlated with this VFmax ( r = 0.57; P < 0.001). This finding was in agreement with assumptions about the role of muscle fiber type, whereas interindividual comparisons clearly support the fact that other parameters may also contribute to performance during fast movements. Nevertheless, none of the biomechanical features considered in the present study were found to be directly related to the highest angular velocity, highlighting the complexity of the upstream mechanics that lead to maximal-velocity muscle contraction.
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Scott, Stephen H., Ian E. Brown, and Gerald E. Loeb. "Mechanics of feline soleus: I. Effect of fascicle length and velocity on force output." Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility 17, no. 2 (April 1996): 207–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf00124243.
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Haraldsson, B. T., P. Aagaard, M. Krogsgaard, T. Alkjaer, M. Kjaer, and S. P. Magnusson. "Region-specific mechanical properties of the human patella tendon." Journal of Applied Physiology 98, no. 3 (March 2005): 1006–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00482.2004.
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The present study investigated the mechanical properties of tendon fascicles from the anterior and posterior human patellar tendon. Collagen fascicles from the anterior and posterior human patellar tendon in healthy young men (mean ± SD, 29.0 ± 4.6 yr, n = 6) were tested in a mechanical rig. A stereoscopic microscope equipped with a digital camera recorded elongation. The fascicles were preconditioned five cycles before the failure test based on pilot data on rat tendon fascicle. Human fascicle length increased with repeated cycles ( P < 0.05); cycle 5 differed from cycle 1 ( P < 0.05), but not cycles 2–4. Peak stress and yield stress were greater for anterior (76.0 ± 9.5 and 56.6 ± 10.4 MPa, respectively) than posterior fascicles (38.5 ± 3.9 and 31.6 ± 2.9 MPa, respectively), P < 0.05, while yield strain was similar (anterior 6.8 ± 1.0%, posterior 8.7 ± 1.4%). Tangent modulus was greater for the anterior (1,231 ± 188 MPa) than the posterior (583 ± 122 MPa) fascicles, P < 0.05. In conclusion, tendon fascicles from the anterior portion of the human patellar tendon in young men displayed considerably greater peak and yield stress and tangent modulus compared with the posterior portion of the tendon, indicating region-specific material properties.
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Konow, Nicolai, Jorn A. Cheney, Thomas J. Roberts, J. Rhea S. Waldman, and Sharon M. Swartz. "Spring or string: does tendon elastic action influence wing muscle mechanics in bat flight?" Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282, no. 1816 (October 7, 2015): 20151832. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.1832.
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Tendon springs influence locomotor movements in many terrestrial animals, but their roles in locomotion through fluids as well as in small-bodied mammals are less clear. We measured muscle, tendon and joint mechanics in an elbow extensor of a small fruit bat during ascending flight. At the end of downstroke, the tendon was stretched by elbow flexion as the wing was folded. At the end of upstroke, elastic energy was recovered via tendon recoil and extended the elbow, contributing to unfurling the wing for downstroke. Compared with a hypothetical ‘string-like’ system lacking series elastic compliance, the tendon spring conferred a 22.5% decrease in muscle fascicle strain magnitude. Our findings demonstrate tendon elastic action in a small flying mammal and expand our understanding of the occurrence and action of series elastic actuator mechanisms in fluid-based locomotion.
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Simms, Ciaran, Hannah Kilroy, Gary Blackburn, and Michael Takaza. "The influence of physical dimension on apparent stress–strain behaviour of in vitro passive skeletal muscle samples." Journal of Strain Analysis for Engineering Design 52, no. 1 (September 27, 2016): 3–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0309324716668673.
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The stress–strain behaviour of skeletal muscle is affected by many factors, leading to varied results reported in the literature. This article examines how the physical dimension of samples in in vitro compression tests affects the muscle stress for a given stretch ratio, in both quasi-static and dynamic loading. It is proposed that physically larger samples display a higher stress response due to the greater inclusion of complete muscle fascicles and also a reduction in percentage fluid exudation during compression. In the case of quasi-static loading, this was evaluated by testing nominally cubic samples of fresh and aged porcine tissue of characteristic lengths between 10 and 40 mm in compression at 0.05%/s strain in the fibre and cross-fibre directions using a Zwick Z005 universal testing rig. For the dynamic tests, a custom instrumented drop tower test rig was used to achieve average strain rates of 12,500%/s, and the stress responses at stretch ratios of [Formula: see text] 0.8 and [Formula: see text] 0.5 of nominally cubic samples of aged porcine tissue of characteristic lengths between 10 and 30 mm compressively loaded in the cross-fibre direction were evaluated. Both static and dynamic results clearly indicate that the muscle stress for a given stretch ratio of aged skeletal muscle tissue increases as the characteristic sample dimension increases from 10 to 30 mm. The effect was somewhat stronger for the dynamic tests. In the case of quasi-static testing, the strain rate of 0.05%/s limited the influence of the viscoelastic properties of the muscle, and sample dimension effects in the static tests are mostly attributable to the greater proportion of complete fascicles in the physically larger samples. In dynamic testing, in addition to the proportion of complete fascicle inclusion, the smaller percentage of fluid exudation for the larger samples compared to the smaller samples may also influence the size effect.
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Day, James, Leah R. Bent, Ingvars Birznieks, Vaughan G. Macefield, and Andrew G. Cresswell. "Muscle spindles in human tibialis anterior encode muscle fascicle length changes." Journal of Neurophysiology 117, no. 4 (April 1, 2017): 1489–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00374.2016.
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Muscle spindles provide exquisitely sensitive proprioceptive information regarding joint position and movement. Through passively driven length changes in the muscle-tendon unit (MTU), muscle spindles detect joint rotations because of their in-parallel mechanical linkage to muscle fascicles. In human microneurography studies, muscle fascicles are assumed to follow the MTU and, as such, fascicle length is not measured in such studies. However, under certain mechanical conditions, compliant structures can act to decouple the fascicles, and, therefore, the spindles, from the MTU. Such decoupling may reduce the fidelity by which muscle spindles encode joint position and movement. The aim of the present study was to measure, for the first time, both the changes in firing of single muscle spindle afferents and changes in muscle fascicle length in vivo from the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) during passive rotations about the ankle. Unitary recordings were made from 15 muscle spindle afferents supplying TA via a microelectrode inserted into the common peroneal nerve. Ultrasonography was used to measure the length of an individual fascicle of TA. We saw a strong correlation between fascicle length and firing rate during passive ankle rotations of varying rates (0.1–0.5 Hz) and amplitudes (1–9°). In particular, we saw responses observed at relatively small changes in muscle length that highlight the sensitivity of the TA muscle to small length changes. This study is the first to measure spindle firing and fascicle dynamics in vivo and provides an experimental basis for further understanding the link between fascicle length, MTU length, and spindle firing patterns. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Muscle spindles are exquisitely sensitive to changes in muscle length, but recordings from human muscle spindle afferents are usually correlated with joint angle rather than muscle fascicle length. In this study, we monitored both muscle fascicle length and spindle firing from the human tibialis anterior muscle in vivo. Our findings are the first to measure these signals in vivo and provide an experimental basis for exploring this link further.
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Reeves, Neil D., and Marco V. Narici. "Behavior of human muscle fascicles during shortening and lengthening contractions in vivo." Journal of Applied Physiology 95, no. 3 (September 2003): 1090–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01046.2002.
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The aim of the present study was to investigate the behavior of human muscle fascicles during dynamic contractions. Eight subjects performed maximal isometric dorsiflexion contractions at six ankle joint angles and maximal isokinetic concentric and eccentric contractions at five angular velocities. Tibialis anterior muscle architecture was measured in vivo by use of B-mode ultrasonography. During maximal isometric contraction, fascicle length was shorter and pennation angle larger compared with values at rest ( P < 0.01). During isokinetic concentric contractions from 0 to 4.36 rad/s, fascicle length measured at a constant ankle joint angle increased curvilinearly from 49.5 to 69.7 mm (41%; P < 0.01), whereas pennation angle decreased curvilinearly from 14.8 to 9.8° (34%; P < 0.01). During eccentric muscle actions, fascicles contracted quasi-isometrically, independent of angular velocity. The behavior of muscle fascicles during shortening contractions was believed to reflect the degree of stretch applied to the series elastic component, which decreases with increasing contraction velocity. The quasi-isometric behavior of fascicles during eccentric muscle actions suggests that the series elastic component acts as a mechanical buffer during active lengthening.
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Roberts, Thomas J., and Emanuel Azizi. "The series-elastic shock absorber: tendons attenuate muscle power during eccentric actions." Journal of Applied Physiology 109, no. 2 (August 2010): 396–404. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01272.2009.
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Elastic tendons can act as muscle power amplifiers or energy-conserving springs during locomotion. We used an in situ muscle-tendon preparation to examine the mechanical function of tendons during lengthening contractions, when muscles absorb energy. Force, length, and power were measured in the lateral gastrocnemius muscle of wild turkeys. Sonomicrometry was used to measure muscle fascicle length independently from muscle-tendon unit (MTU) length, as measured by a muscle lever system (servomotor). A series of ramp stretches of varying velocities was applied to the MTU in fully activated muscles. Fascicle length changes were decoupled from length changes imposed on the MTU by the servomotor. Under most conditions, muscle fascicles shortened on average, while the MTU lengthened. Energy input to the MTU during the fastest lengthenings was −54.4 J/kg, while estimated work input to the muscle fascicles during this period was only −11.24 J/kg. This discrepancy indicates that energy was first absorbed by elastic elements, then released to do work on muscle fascicles after the lengthening phase of the contraction. The temporary storage of energy by elastic elements also resulted in a significant attenuation of power input to the muscle fascicles. At the fastest lengthening rates, peak instantaneous power input to the MTU reached −2,143.9 W/kg, while peak power input to the fascicles was only −557.6 W/kg. These results demonstrate that tendons may act as mechanical buffers by limiting peak muscle forces, lengthening rates, and power inputs during energy-absorbing contractions.
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Lai, Adrian, Glen A. Lichtwark, Anthony G. Schache, Yi-Chung Lin, Nicholas A. T. Brown, and Marcus G. Pandy. "In vivo behavior of the human soleus muscle with increasing walking and running speeds." Journal of Applied Physiology 118, no. 10 (May 15, 2015): 1266–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00128.2015.
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The interaction between the muscle fascicle and tendon components of the human soleus (SO) muscle influences the capacity of the muscle to generate force and mechanical work during walking and running. In the present study, ultrasound-based measurements of in vivo SO muscle fascicle behavior were combined with an inverse dynamics analysis to investigate the interaction between the muscle fascicle and tendon components over a broad range of steady-state walking and running speeds: slow-paced walking (0.7 m/s) through to moderate-paced running (5.0 m/s). Irrespective of a change in locomotion mode (i.e., walking vs. running) or an increase in steady-state speed, SO muscle fascicles were found to exhibit minimal shortening compared with the muscle-tendon unit (MTU) throughout stance. During walking and running, the muscle fascicles contributed only 35 and 20% of the overall MTU length change and shortening velocity, respectively. Greater levels of muscle activity resulted in increasingly shorter SO muscle fascicles as locomotion speed increased, both of which facilitated greater tendon stretch and recoil. Thus the elastic tendon contributed the majority of the MTU length change during walking and running. When transitioning from walking to running near the preferred transition speed (2.0 m/s), greater, more economical ankle torque development is likely explained by the SO muscle fascicles shortening more slowly and operating on a more favorable portion (i.e., closer to the plateau) of the force-length curve.
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Ripley, Nicholas, Jack Fahey, Paul Comfort, and John McMahon. "Kinematic, Neuromuscular and Bicep Femoris In Vivo Mechanics during the Nordic Hamstring Exercise and Variations of the Nordic Hamstring Exercise." Muscles 3, no. 3 (September 18, 2024): 310–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/muscles3030027.
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The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is effective at decreasing hamstring strain injury risk. Limited information is available on the in vivo mechanics of the bicep femoris long head (BFLH) during the NHE. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to observe kinematic, neuromuscular and in-vivo mechanics of the BFLH during the NHE. Thirteen participants (24.7 ± 3.7 years, 79.56 ± 7.89 kg, 177.40 ± 12.54 cm) performed three repetitions of the NHE at three horizontal planes (0°, 20° and −20°). Dynamic ultrasound of the dominant limb BFLH, surface electromyography (sEMG) of the contralateral hamstrings and sagittal plane motion data were simultaneously collected. Repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc corrections were used on the in vivo mechanics and the kinematic and sEMG changes in performance of the NHE. Likely differences in ultrasound waveforms for the BFLH were determined. Significant and meaningful differences in kinematics and in vivo mechanics between NHE variations were observed. Non-significant differences were observed in sEMG measures between variations. Changes to the NHE performance angle manipulates the lever arm, increasing or decreasing the amount of force required by the hamstrings at any given muscle length, potentially changing the adaptive response when training at different planes and providing logical progressions ore regressions of the NHE. All NHE variations result in a similar magnitude of fascicle lengthening, which may indicate similar positive adaptations from the utilization of any variation.
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Ishikawa, Masaki, Paavo V. Komi, Michael J. Grey, Vesa Lepola, and Gert-Peter Bruggemann. "Muscle-tendon interaction and elastic energy usage in human walking." Journal of Applied Physiology 99, no. 2 (August 2005): 603–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00189.2005.
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The present study was designed to explore how the interaction between the fascicles and tendinous tissues is involved in storage and utilization of elastic energy during human walking. Eight male subjects walked with a natural cadence (1.4 ± 0.1 m/s) on a 10-m-long force plate system. In vivo techniques were employed to record the Achilles tendon force and to scan real-time fascicle lengths for two muscles (medial gastrocnemius and soleus). The results showed that tendinous tissues of both medial gastrocnemius and soleus muscles lengthened slowly throughout the single-stance phase and then recoiled rapidly close to the end of the ground contact. However, the fascicle length changes demonstrated different patterns and amplitudes between two muscles. The medial gastrocnemius fascicles were stretched during the early single-stance phase and then remained isometrically during the late-stance phase. In contrast, the soleus fascicles were lengthened until the end of the single-stance phase. These findings suggest that the elastic recoil takes place not as a spring-like bouncing but as a catapult action in natural human walking. The interaction between the muscle fascicles and tendinous tissues plays an important role in the process of release of elastic energy, although the leg muscles, which are commonly accepted as synergists, do not have similar mechanical behavior of fascicles in this catapult action.
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Bobbert, Maarten F., L. J. Richard Casius, Stephan van der Zwaard, and Richard T. Jaspers. "Effect of vasti morphology on peak sprint cycling power of a human musculoskeletal simulation model." Journal of Applied Physiology 128, no. 2 (February 1, 2020): 445–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00674.2018.
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Fascicle length of m. vastus lateralis in cyclists has been shown to correlate positively with peak sprint cycling power normalized for lean body mass. We investigated whether vasti morphology affects sprint cycling power via force-length and force-velocity relationships. We simulated isokinetic sprint cycling at pedaling rates ranging from 40 to 150 rpm with a forward dynamic model of the human musculoskeletal system actuated by eight leg muscles. Input of the model was muscle stimulation over time, which was optimized to maximize the average power output over a pedal cycle. This was done for a reference model and for models in which the vasti had equal volume but different morphology. It was found that models with longer muscle fibers but a reduced physiological cross-sectional area of the vasti produced a higher sprint cycling power. This was partly explained by better alignment of the peak power-pedaling rate curve of the vasti with the corresponding curves of the other leg muscles. The highest sprint cycling power was achieved in a model in which the increase in muscle fiber length of the vasti was accompanied by a concomitant shift in optimum knee angle. It was concluded that muscle mechanics can partly explain the positive correlations between fascicle length of m. vastus lateralis and normalized peak sprint cycling power. It should be investigated whether muscle fiber length of the vasti and optimum knee angle are suitable training targets for athletes who want to concurrently improve their sprint and endurance cycling performance. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We simulated isokinetic sprint cycling at pedaling rates ranging from 40 to 150 rpm with a forward dynamic model of the human musculoskeletal system actuated by eight leg muscles. We selectively modified vasti morphology: we lengthened the muscle fibers and reduced the physiological cross-sectional area. The modified model was able to produce a higher sprint cycling power.
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Gillis, Carol, Roy R. Pool, D. M. Meagher, Susan M. Stover, Karen Reiser, and Neil Willits. "Effect of maturation and aging on the histomorphometric and biochemical characteristics of equine superficial digital flexor tendon." American Journal of Veterinary Research 58, no. 4 (April 1, 1997): 425–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.1997.58.04.425.
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Abstract Objective To assess tendon morphology and non-reducible crosslink concentration, and associations of these findings with horse age and previously reported mechanical and ultrasonographic findings. Sample Population Superficial digital flexor tendon samples were obtained from 23 horses aged 2 to 23 years. The tendons had undergone ultrasonography and were submitted to biomechanical testing in the physiologic range prior to sample acquisition. Procedure Samples were sectioned in a transverse plane; then dorsal, palmar, central, lateral, and medial regions were evaluated for fascicle cross-sectional area (CSA), septal width, and vessel density (the product of vessel numbers and vessel CSA per field). Contiguous samples were analyzed for collagen crosslinking. Results Central fascicles were significantly larger than fascicles in other tendon regions. Fascicle CSA decreased significantly with increasing age. Because total tendon CSA is unrelated to increasing age, fascicle numbers appeared to increase with increasing age. Regional or age effects on septal width were not found. There was no age or regional effect on vessel numbers, density, or fractional area. Fascicle CSA was positively correlated with total tendon CSA; fascicle CSA was negatively correlated with elastic modulus. Hydroxypiridinium concentration tended to increase with increasing horse age; this effect was associated with a positive correlation between hydroxypiridinium values and elastic modulus. Conclusions Equine superficial digital flexor tendon undergoes an increase in structural organization and an increase in nonreducible crosslinks with maturation and aging. These changes are associated with an increase in elastic modulus. (Am J Vet Res 1997; 58:425–430)
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Derwin, K. A., and L. J. Soslowsky. "A Quantitative Investigation of Structure-Function Relationships in a Tendon Fascicle Model." Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 121, no. 6 (December 1, 1999): 598–604. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.2800859.
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These studies sought to investigate quantitative relationships between the complex composite structure and mechanical properties of tendon. The isolated mouse tail tendon fascicle was chosen as an appropriate model for these so-called “structure-function” investigations. Specifically, collagen fibril diameters and mechanical properties were measured in fascicles from immature (3 week) control, adult (8 week) control, and adult (8 week) Mov13 transgenic mice. Results demonstrated a moderate correlation between mean fibril diameter and fascicle stiffness (r = 0.73, p = 0.001) and maximum load (r = 0.75, p < 0.001), whereas a weak correlation with fascicle modulus (r = 0.39, p = 0.11) and maximum stress (r = 0.48, p = 0.04). An analysis of pooled within-group correlations revealed no strong structure-function trends evidenced at the local or group level, indicating that correlations observed in the general structure-function analyses were due primarily to having three different experimental groups, rather than significant correlations of parameters within the groups.
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Konow, Nicolai, Emanuel Azizi, and Thomas J. Roberts. "Muscle power attenuation by tendon during energy dissipation." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 279, no. 1731 (September 28, 2011): 1108–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.1435.
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An important function of skeletal muscle is deceleration via active muscle fascicle lengthening, which dissipates movement energy. The mechanical interplay between muscle contraction and tendon elasticity is critical when muscles produce energy. However, the role of tendon elasticity during muscular energy dissipation remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that tendon elasticity functions as a mechanical buffer, preventing high (and probably damaging) velocities and powers during active muscle fascicle lengthening. We directly measured lateral gastrocnemius muscle force and length in wild turkeys during controlled landings requiring rapid energy dissipation. Muscle-tendon unit (MTU) strain was measured via video kinematics, independent of muscle fascicle strain (measured via sonomicrometry). We found that rapid MTU lengthening immediately following impact involved little or no muscle fascicle lengthening. Therefore, joint flexion had to be accommodated by tendon stretch. After the early contact period, muscle fascicles lengthened and absorbed energy. This late lengthening occurred after most of the joint flexion, and was thus mainly driven by tendon recoil. Temporary tendon energy storage led to a significant reduction in muscle fascicle lengthening velocity and the rate of energy absorption. We conclude that tendons function as power attenuators that probably protect muscles against damage from rapid and forceful lengthening during energy dissipation.
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Muramatsu, Tadashi, Tetsuro Muraoka, Yasuo Kawakami, Akira Shibayama, and Tetsuo Fukunaga. "In vivo determination of fascicle curvature in contracting human skeletal muscles." Journal of Applied Physiology 92, no. 1 (January 1, 2002): 129–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jappl.2002.92.1.129.
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Fascicle curvature of human medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG) was determined in vivo by ultrasonography during isometric contractions at three (distal, central, and proximal) locations ( n = 7) and at three ankle angles ( n = 7). The curvature significantly ( P < 0.05) increased from rest to maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) (0.4–5.2 m−1). In addition, the curvature at MVC became larger in the order dorsiflexed, neutral, plantar flexed ( P < 0.05). Thus both contraction levels and muscle length affected the curvature. Intramuscular differences in neither the curvature nor the fascicle length were found. The direction of curving was consistent along the muscle: fascicles were concave in the proximal side. Fascicle length estimated from the pennation angle and muscle thickness, under the assumption that the fascicle was straight, was underestimated by ∼6%. In addition, the curvature was significantly correlated to pennation angle and muscle thickness. These findings are particularly important for understanding the mechanical functions of human skeletal muscle in vivo.
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Herbert, R. D., B. Bolsterlee, and S. C. Gandevia. "Passive changes in muscle length." Journal of Applied Physiology 126, no. 5 (May 1, 2019): 1445–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00673.2018.
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This review, the first in a series of minireviews on the passive mechanical properties of skeletal muscles, seeks to summarize what is known about the muscle deformations that allow relaxed muscles to lengthen and shorten. Most obviously, when a muscle lengthens, muscle fascicles elongate, but this is not the only mechanism by which muscles change their length. In pennate muscles, elongation of muscle fascicles is accompanied by changes in pennation and changes in fascicle curvature, both of which may contribute to changes in muscle length. The contributions of these mechanisms to change in muscle length are usually small under passive conditions. In very pennate muscles with long aponeuroses, fascicle shear could contribute substantially to changes in muscle length. Tendons experience moderate axial strains even under passive loads, and, because tendons are often much longer than muscle fibers, even moderate tendon strains may contribute substantially to changes in muscle length. Data obtained with new imaging techniques suggest that muscle fascicle and aponeurosis strains are highly nonuniform, but this is yet to be confirmed. The development, validation, and interpretation of continuum muscle models informed by rigorous measurements of muscle architecture and material properties should provide further insights into the mechanisms that allow relaxed muscles to lengthen and shorten.
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Wade, Logan, Glen A. Lichtwark, and Dominic J. Farris. "Joint and muscle-tendon coordination strategies during submaximal jumping." Journal of Applied Physiology 128, no. 3 (March 1, 2020): 596–603. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00293.2019.
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Previous research has demonstrated that during submaximal jumping humans prioritize reducing energy consumption by minimizing countermovement depth. However, sometimes movement is constrained to a nonpreferred pattern, and this requires adaptation of neural control that accounts for complex interactions between muscle architecture, muscle properties, and task demands. This study compared submaximal jumping with either a preferred or a deep countermovement depth to examine how joint and muscle mechanics are integrated into the adaptation of coordination strategies in the deep condition. Three-dimensional motion capture, two force plates, electromyography, and ultrasonography were used to examine changes in joint kinetics and kinematics, muscle activation, and muscle kinematics for the lateral gastrocnemius and soleus. Results demonstrated that a decrease in ankle joint work during the deep countermovement depth was due to increased knee flexion, leading to unfavorably short biarticular muscle lengths and reduced active fascicle length change during ankle plantar flexion. Therefore, ankle joint work was likely decreased because of reduced active fascicle length change and operating position on the force-length relationship. Hip joint work was significantly increased as a result of altered muscle activation strategies, likely due to a substantially greater hip extensor muscle activation period compared with plantar flexor muscles during jumping. Therefore, coordination strategies at individual joints are likely influenced by time availability, where a short plantar flexor activation time results in dependence on muscle properties, instead of simply altering muscle activation, while the longer time for contraction of muscles at the hip allows for adjustments to voluntary neural control. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using human jumping as a model, we show that adapting movement patterns to altered task demands is achieved differently by muscles across the leg. Because of proximal-to-distal sequencing, distal muscles (i.e., plantar flexors) have reduced activation periods and, as a result, rely on muscle contractile properties (force-length relationship) for adjusting joint kinetics. For proximal muscles that have greater time availability, voluntary activation is modulated to adjust muscle outputs.
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Elnaggar, Ragab K., Mohammed S. Alghamdi, Aqeel M. Alenazi, Mshari Alghadier, Mostafa Z. Mahmoud, Abbas Elbakry A. Elsayed, Ismail Abdelfattah M. Hassan, and Asmaa A. Abonour. "Mechanical and Morphological Changes of the Plantar Flexor Musculotendinous Unit in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy Following 12 Weeks of Plyometric Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Children 9, no. 11 (October 22, 2022): 1604. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/children9111604.
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To investigate how plyometric exercise (PLYO-Ex) affects mechanics and morphometrics of the plantar flexor musculotendinous unit in children with unilateral cerebral palsy, 38 participants (aged 10–16 years) were allocated at random to either the PLYO-Ex group (n = 19; received 24 sessions of plyometric muscle loading, conducted 2 times a week for 3 months in succession) or the control group (n = 19; underwent traditional physical therapy for the same frequency and duration). Measurements were taken pre- and post-intervention. Standard ultrasound imaging was applied to evaluate morphometrics of the gastrocnemius muscle and Achilles tendon unit and an isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate maximum voluntary isometric plantar flexors contraction (IVCmax). With controlling for pre-treatment values, significant post-treatment changes favoring the PLYO-Ex group were observed for morphological (tendon (p = 0.003, η2p = 0.23) length; belly length (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.27); tendon thickness (p = 0.035, η2p = 0.35); muscle thickness (p = 0.013, η2p = 0.17); fascicle length (p = 0.009, η2p = 0.18); pennation angle (p = 0.015, η2p = 0.16)) and mechanical and material properties (IVCmax (p = 0.009, η2p = 0.18); tendon’s elongation (p = 0.012, η2p = 0.17), stiffness (p = 0.027, η2p = 0.13); stress (p = 0.006, η2p = 0.20); strain (p = 0.004, η2p = 0.21)). In conclusion, plyometric exercise induces significant adaptations within the musculotendinous unit of the plantar flexors in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. These adaptations could improve muscular efficiency and consequently optimize physical/functional performance.
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Daley, Monica A., and Andrew A. Biewener. "Leg muscles that mediate stability: mechanics and control of two distal extensor muscles during obstacle negotiation in the guinea fowl." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 366, no. 1570 (May 27, 2011): 1580–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0338.
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Here, we used an obstacle treadmill experiment to investigate the neuromuscular control of locomotion in uneven terrain. We measured in vivo function of two distal muscles of the guinea fowl, lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and digital flexor-IV (DF), during level running, and two uneven terrains, with 5 and 7 cm obstacles. Uneven terrain required one step onto an obstacle every four to five strides. We compared both perturbed and unperturbed strides in uneven terrain to level terrain. When the bird stepped onto an obstacle, the leg became crouched, both muscles acted at longer lengths and produced greater work, and body height increased. Muscle activation increased on obstacle strides in the LG, but not the DF, suggesting a greater reflex contribution to LG. In unperturbed strides in uneven terrain, swing pre-activation of DF increased by 5 per cent compared with level terrain, suggesting feed-forward tuning of leg impedance. Across conditions, the neuromechanical factors in work output differed between the two muscles, probably due to differences in muscle–tendon architecture. LG work depended primarily on fascicle length, whereas DF work depended on both length and velocity during loading. These distal muscles appear to play a critical role in stability by rapidly sensing and responding to altered leg–ground interaction.
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Virgilio, Kelley M., Kyle S. Martin, Shayn M. Peirce, and Silvia S. Blemker. "Multiscale models of skeletal muscle reveal the complex effects of muscular dystrophy on tissue mechanics and damage susceptibility." Interface Focus 5, no. 2 (April 6, 2015): 20140080. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2014.0080.
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Computational models have been increasingly used to study the tissue-level constitutive properties of muscle microstructure; however, these models were not created to study or incorporate the influence of disease-associated modifications in muscle. The purpose of this paper was to develop a novel multiscale muscle modelling framework to elucidate the relationship between microstructural disease adaptations and modifications in both mechanical properties of muscle and strain in the cell membrane. We used an agent-based model to randomly generate new muscle fibre geometries and mapped them into a finite-element model representing a cross section of a muscle fascicle. The framework enabled us to explore variability in the shape and arrangement of fibres, as well as to incorporate disease-related changes. We applied this method to reveal the trade-offs between mechanical properties and damage susceptibility in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a fatal genetic disease caused by a lack of the transmembrane protein dystrophin, leading to muscle wasting and death due to cardiac or pulmonary complications. The most prevalent microstructural variations in DMD include: lack of transmembrane proteins, fibrosis, fatty infiltration and variation in fibre cross-sectional area. A parameter analysis of these variations and case study of DMD revealed that the nature of fibrosis and density of transmembrane proteins strongly affected the stiffness of the muscle and susceptibility to membrane damage.
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Screen, H. R. C., D. A. Lee, D. L. Bader, and J. C. Shelton. "Development of a technique to determine strains in tendons using the cell nuclei." Biorheology: The Official Journal of the International Society of Biorheology 40, no. 1-3 (January 2003): 361–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0006355x2003040001003050.
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Tenocytes detect mechanical stimuli in vivo, and respond through mechanotransduction pathways to initiate matrix remodelling in tendons. Due to the crimped nature of tendon fascicles, the strain field throughout is non‐homogeneous. The present study has developed a means to quantify the local strain fields within a fascicle by monitoring the relative movement and deformation of fluorescently labelled tenocyte nuclei. A stage mounted test rig was designed to apply tensile strain to fascicles. Rat tail and bovine extensor tendons were harvested for analysis, and the cell nuclei stained and visualised using an inverted confocal microscope. As the fascicles were subjected to gross strains of up to 5%, the movement of selected tenocyte nuclei were recorded. Results from a series of cell nuclei from both tendon sources revealed that local strains were significantly less than the applied strain. The nuclei length to width ratio, an indicator of cell deformation, also increased with applied strain, most significantly between 2 and 3% applied strain.
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af Klint, R., N. J. Cronin, M. Ishikawa, T. Sinkjaer, and M. J. Grey. "Afferent Contribution to Locomotor Muscle Activity During Unconstrained Overground Human Walking: An Analysis of Triceps Surae Muscle Fascicles." Journal of Neurophysiology 103, no. 3 (March 2010): 1262–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00852.2009.
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Plantar flexor series elasticity can be used to dissociate muscle–fascicle and muscle–tendon behavior and thus afferent feedback during human walking. We used electromyography (EMG) and high-speed ultrasonography concomitantly to monitor muscle activity and muscle fascicle behavior in 19 healthy volunteers as they walked across a platform. On random trials, the platform was dropped (8 cm, 0.9 g acceleration) or held at a small inclination (up to ±3° in the parasagittal plane) with respect to level ground. Dropping the platform in the mid and late phases of stance produced a depression in the soleus muscle activity with an onset latency of about 50 ms. The reduction in ground reaction force also unloaded the plantar flexor muscles. The soleus muscle fascicles shortened with a minimum delay of 14 ms. Small variations in platform inclination produced significant changes in triceps surae muscle activity; EMG increased when stepping on an inclined surface and decreased when stepping on a declined surface. This sensory modulation of the locomotor output was concomitant with changes in triceps surae muscle fascicle and gastrocnemius tendon length. Assuming that afferent activity correlates to these mechanical changes, our results indicate that within-step sensory feedback from the plantar flexor muscles automatically adjusts muscle activity to compensate for small ground irregularities. The delayed onset of muscle fascicle movement after dropping the platform indicates that at least the initial part of the soleus depression is more likely mediated by a decrease in force feedback than length-sensitive feedback, indicating that force feedback contributes to the locomotor activity in human walking.
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Kinugasa, Ryuta, John A. Hodgson, V. Reggie Edgerton, and Shantanu Sinha. "Asymmetric deformation of contracting human gastrocnemius muscle." Journal of Applied Physiology 112, no. 3 (February 1, 2012): 463–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00666.2011.
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Muscle fiber deformation is related to its cellular structure, as well as its architectural arrangement within the musculoskeletal system. While playing an important role in aponeurosis displacement, and efficiency of force transmission to the tendon, such deformation also provides important clues about the underlying mechanical structure of the muscle. We hypothesized that muscle fiber cross section would deform asymmetrically to satisfy the observed constant volume of muscle during a contraction. Velocity-encoded, phase-contrast, and morphological magnetic resonance imaging techniques were used to measure changes in fascicle length, pinnation angle, and aponeurosis separation of the human gastrocnemius muscle during passive and active eccentric ankle joint movements. These parameters were then used to subsequently calculate the in-plane muscle area subtended by the two aponeuroses and fascicles and to calculate the in-plane (dividing area by fascicle length), and through-plane (dividing muscle volume by area) thicknesses. Constant-volume considerations of the whole-muscle geometry require that, as fascicle length increases, the muscle fiber cross-sectional area must decrease in proportion to the length change. Our empirical findings confirm the definition of a constant-volume rule that dictates that changes in the dimension perpendicular to the plane, i.e., through-plane thickness, (−6.0% for passive, −3.3% for eccentric) equate to the reciprocal of the changes in area (6.8% for passive, 3.7% for eccentric) for both exercise paradigms. The asymmetry in fascicle cross-section deformation for both passive and active muscle fibers is established in this study with a ∼22% in-plane and ∼6% through-plane fascicle thickness change. These fiber deformations have functional relevance, not only because they affect the force production of the muscle itself, but also because they affect the characteristics of adjacent muscles by deflecting their line of pull.
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Phillips, S., S. Mercer, and N. Bogduk. "Anatomy and biomechanics of quadratus lumborum." Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine 222, no. 2 (February 1, 2008): 151–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/09544119jeim266.
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Various actions on the lumbar spine have been attributed to quadratus lumborum, but they have not been substantiated by quantitative data. The present study was undertaken to determine the magnitude of forces and moments that quadratus lumborum could exert on the lumbar spine. The fascicular anatomy of quadratus lumborum was studied in six embalmed cadavers. For each fascicle, the sites of attachment, orientation, and physiological cross-sectional area were determined. The fascicular anatomy varied considerably, between sides and between specimens, with respect to the number of fascicles, their prevalence, and their sizes. Approximately half of the fascicles act on the twelfth rib, and the rest act on the lumbar spine. The more consistently present fascicles were incorporated, as force-equivalents, into a model of quadratus lumborum in order to determine its possible actions. The magnitudes of the compression forces exerted by quadratus lumborum on the lumbar spine, the extensor moment, and the lateral bending moment, were each no greater than 10 per cent of those exerted by erector spinae and multifidus. These data indicate that quadratus lumborum has no more than a modest action on the lumbar spine, in quantitative terms. Its actual role in spinal biomechanics has still to be determined.
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Aeles, Jeroen, Glen Lichtwark, Dries Peeters, Christophe Delecluse, Ilse Jonkers, and Benedicte Vanwanseele. "Effect of a prehop on the muscle-tendon interaction during vertical jumps." Journal of Applied Physiology 124, no. 5 (May 1, 2018): 1203–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00462.2017.
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Many movements use stretch-shortening cycles of a muscle-tendon unit (MTU) for storing and releasing elastic energy. The required stretching of medial gastrocnemius (MG) tendinous tissue during jumps, however, requires large length changes of the muscle fascicles because of the lack of MTU length changes. This has a negative impact on the force-generating capacity of the muscle fascicles. The purpose of this study was to induce a MG MTU stretch before shortening by adding a prehop to the squat jump. Eleven well-trained athletes specialized in jumping performed a prehop squat jump (PHSJ) and a standard squat jump (SSJ). Kinematic data were collected using a 3D motion capture system and were used in a musculoskeletal model to calculate MTU lengths. B-mode ultrasonography of the MG was used to measure fascicle length and pennation angle during the jumps. By combining the muscle-tendon unit lengths, fascicle lengths, and pennation angles, the stretch and recoil of the series elastic element of MG were calculated using a simple geometric muscle-tendon model. Our results show less length changes of the muscle fascicles during the upward motion and lower maximal shortening velocities, increasing the moment-generating capacity of the plantar flexors, reflected in the higher ankle joint moment in the PHSJ compared with the SSJ. Although muscle-tendon interaction during the PHSJ was more optimal, athletes were not able to increase their jump height compared with the SSJ. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study that aimed to improve the muscle-tendon interaction in squat jumping. We effectively introduced a stretch to the medial gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit resulting in lower maximal shortening velocities and thus an increase in the plantar flexor force-generating capacity, reflected in the higher ankle joint moment in the prehop squat jump compared with the standard squat jump. Here, we demonstrate an effective method for mechanical optimization of the muscle-tendon interaction in the medial gastrocnemius during squat jumping.
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Zhao, Heng, Yi-Ning Wu, Miriam Hwang, Yupeng Ren, Fan Gao, Deborah Gaebler-Spira, and Li-Qun Zhang. "Changes of calf muscle-tendon biomechanical properties induced by passive-stretching and active-movement training in children with cerebral palsy." Journal of Applied Physiology 111, no. 2 (August 2011): 435–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01361.2010.
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Biomechanical properties of calf muscles and Achilles tendon may be altered considerably in children with cerebral palsy (CP), contributing to childhood disability. It is unclear how muscle fascicles and tendon respond to rehabilitation and contribute to improvement of ankle-joint properties. Biomechanical properties of the calf muscle fascicles of both gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and soleus (SOL), including the fascicle length and pennation angle in seven children with CP, were evaluated using ultrasonography combined with biomechanical measurements before and after a 6-wk treatment of passive-stretching and active-movement training. The passive force contributions from the GM and SOL muscles were separated using flexed and extended knee positions, and fascicular stiffness was calculated based on the fascicular force-length relation. Biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon, including resting length, cross-sectional area, and stiffness, were also evaluated. The 6-wk training induced elongation of muscle fascicles (SOL: 8%, P = 0.018; GM: 3%, P = 0.018), reduced pennation angle (SOL: 10%, P = 0.028; GM: 5%, P = 0.028), reduced fascicular stiffness (SOL: 17%, P = 0.128; GM: 21%, P = 0.018), decreased tendon length (6%, P = 0.018), increased Achilles tendon stiffness (32%, P = 0.018), and increased Young's modulus (20%, P = 0.018). In vivo characterizations of calf muscles and Achilles tendon mechanical properties help us better understand treatment-induced changes of calf muscle-tendon and facilitate development of more effective treatments.
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Pantall, Annette, Emma F. Hodson-Tole, Robert J. Gregor, and Boris I. Prilutsky. "Increased intensity and reduced frequency of EMG signals from feline self-reinnervated ankle extensors during walking do not normalize excessive lengthening." Journal of Neurophysiology 115, no. 5 (May 1, 2016): 2406–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00565.2015.
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Kinematics of cat level walking recover after elimination of length-dependent sensory feedback from the major ankle extensor muscles induced by self-reinnervation. Little is known, however, about changes in locomotor myoelectric activity of self-reinnervated muscles. We examined the myoelectric activity of self-reinnervated muscles and intact synergists to determine the extent to which patterns of muscle activity change as almost normal walking is restored following muscle self-reinnervation. Nerves to soleus (SO) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) of six adult cats were surgically transected and repaired. Intramuscular myoelectric signals of SO, LG, medial gastrocnemius (MG), and plantaris (PL), muscle fascicle length of SO and MG, and hindlimb mechanics were recorded during level and slope (±27°) walking before and after (10–12 wk postsurgery) self-reinnervation of LG and SO. Mean myoelectric signal intensity and frequency were determined using wavelet analysis. Following SO and LG self-reinnervation, mean myoelectric signal intensity increased and frequency decreased in most conditions for SO and LG as well as for intact synergist MG ( P < 0.05). Greater elongation of SO muscle-tendon unit during downslope and unchanged magnitudes of ankle extensor moment during the stance phase in all walking conditions suggested a functional deficiency of ankle extensors after self-reinnervation. Possible effects of morphological reorganization of motor units of ankle extensors and altered sensory and central inputs on the changes in myoelectric activity of self-reinnervated SO and LG are discussed.