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PubMedDate not supplied

[State of skeletal muscle fibers in rats during physical exercise after anti-orthostatic tail suspension in modeling the weightlessness].

The state of myofibers of types I, IIA and IIB of biceps femoris m. of Wistar rats exposed to tail suspension for 14 or 21 days was investigated after they experienced a 15-minute locomotor load: running on a treadmill or hindlimb stretching. In all types of myofibers both exposures prevented the development of most structural and metabolic changes that occurred in response to suspension simulating the physiological effects of weightlessness. The distribution and level of variations of muscle parameters depended on the kind of exposure and type of myofibers.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Responses in muscle afferent fibres of slow conduction velocity to contractions and ischaemia in the cat.

The aim of the study was to find out to what extent muscle receptors with slowly conducting afferent fibres (group III and IV) are activated by muscular contractions of moderate force, and what kind of muscle afferents could mediate the pain of ischaemic exercise. In chloralose-anaesthetized cats, the impulse activity of single afferent units from the triceps surae muscle was recorded from dorsal root filaments during muscular contractions with intact blood supply and after occlusion of the muscle artery. Two types of responses were observed to contractions without muscular ischaemia. One was characterized by sudden onset and a graded response amplitude to contractions of increasing force. In most cases stretching the muscle was also an effective stimulus. Units showing this response behaviour were labelled c.s.m (contraction-sensitive with mechanical mechanism of activation). The other response type had a more delayed onset and often outlasted the exercise period; because of the unknown mechanism of activation, units of this kind were labelled c.s.x. The proportion of c.s.m receptors was significantly higher amongst group III than amongst group IV units. During ischaemic contractions of comparable force the c.s.m and c.s.x receptors exhibited an unchanged or a decreased response amplitude. Under these conditions another receptor type (N, for nociceptive) was activated which did not respond to contractions with intact blood supply. Vigorous activations during ischaemic work were only observed in group IV receptors. The majority of the 131 group III and IV units tested did not respond to contractions at all. These contraction-insensitive (c.i.) endings probably comprised different receptor populations (nociceptors, thermoreceptors, low-threshold mechanoreceptors). It is concluded that the various central nervous effects of muscular exercise without ischaemia which are known to be due to raised activity in thin muscle afferents (e.g. cardiopulmonary adjustments, spinal locomotor reflexes) are probably produced by the c.s.m and c.s.x types. The pain of ischaemic contractions is most likely mediated by the N receptors most of which possess non-myelinated afferent fibres.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2004

Acute effects of static stretching on peak torque in women.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of static stretching on concentric, isokinetic leg extension peak torque (PT) at 60 and 240 degrees.s(-1) in the stretched and unstretched limbs. The PT of the dominant (stretched) and nondominant (unstretched) leg extensors were measured on a calibrated Cybex 6000 dynamometer. Following the prestretching PT assessments, the dominant leg extensors were stretched using 1 active and 3 passive stretching exercises. After the stretching, PT was reassessed. The results of the statistical analyses indicated that PT decreased following the static stretching in both limbs and at both velocities (60 and 240 degrees.s(-1)). The present findings suggested that the stretching-induced decreases in PT may be related to changes in the mechanical properties of the muscle, such as an altered length-tension relationship, or a central nervous system inhibitory mechanism. Overall, these findings, in conjunction with previous studies, indicated that static stretching impairs maximal force production. Strength and conditioning professionals should consider this before incorporating static stretching in preperformance activities. Future studies are needed to identify the underlying mechanisms that influence the time course of stretching-induced decreases in maximal force production for athletes and nonathletes across the age span.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

MLR stimulation and exercise pressor reflex activate different renal sympathetic fibers in decerebrate cats.

Although mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) stimulation and the exercise pressor reflex have been shown to increase whole nerve renal sympathetic activity, it is not known whether these mechanisms converge onto the same population of renal sympathetic postganglionic efferents. In decerebrate cats, we examined the responses of single renal sympathetic postganglionic efferents to stimulation of the MLR and the exercise pressor reflex (i.e., static contraction of the triceps surae muscles). We found that, in most instances (24 of 28 fibers), either MLR stimulation or the muscle reflex, but not both, increased the discharge of renal postganglionic sympathetic efferents. In addition, we found that renal sympathetic efferents that responded to static contraction while the muscles were freely perfused responded more vigorously to static contraction during circulatory arrest. Moreover, stretch of the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon stimulated the same renal sympathetic efferents as did static contraction. These findings suggest that MLR stimulation and the exercise pressor reflex do not converge onto the same renal sympathetic postganglionic efferents.

Achilles Tendon↗

PubMed2003

Improvements in muscle symmetry in children with cerebral palsy after equine-assisted therapy (hippotherapy).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of hippotherapy (physical therapy utilizing the movement of a horse) on muscle activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy. DESIGN: Pretest/post-test control group. SETTING/LOCATION: Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT), Tucson, AZ. SUBJECTS: Fifteen (15) children ranging from 4 to 12 years of age diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy. INTERVENTIONS: Children meeting inclusion criteria were randomized to either 8 minutes of hippotherapy or 8 minutes astride a stationary barrel. OUTCOME MEASURES: Remote surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activity of the trunk and upper legs during sitting, standing, and walking tasks before and after each intervention. RESULTS: After hippotherapy, significant improvement in symmetry of muscle activity was noted in those muscle groups displaying the highest asymmetry prior to hippotherapy. No significant change was noted after sitting astride a barrel. CONCLUSIONS: Eight minutes of hippotherapy, but not stationary sitting astride a barrel, resulted in improved symmetry in muscle activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy. These results suggest that the movement of the horse rather than passive stretching accounts for the measured improvements.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Effects of activity on growth factor expression.

For some time, it has been appreciated that muscle mass is regulated locally as well as systemically. We have cloned the cDNA of two isoforms of IGF-1, which are derived from the IGF-1 gene by alternate splicing. The expression of one of these was only detectable after mechanical stimulation. For this reason, this has been called mechano growth factor (MGF). The MGF is not glycosylated, is smaller, and has a shorter half-life in the unbound state than the systemic liver type IGF-1. As the result of a reading frame shift the MGF peptide also has a different C terminal sequence and thus has different binding protein/receptor affinities. Another splice variant (muscle L.IGF-I) is expressed in muscle during rest but is also upregulated by exercise. The latter is similar to the systemic liver type IGF-1. The evidence suggests that MGF has a high potency for inducing local protein synthesis and preventing apoptosis and therefore has an important role in local tissue repair and remodeling. Our physiological experiments show that stretch and particularly stretch combined with electrical stimulation, rather than stimulation alone are important in inducing MGF expression. The mechanotransduction mechanism is believed to involve the muscle cytoskeleton. During aging, the production of growth hormone and IGF-1 by the liver declines markedly. The discovery of MGF and muscle IGF-1 provides a link between physical activity and gene expression. This underlines the need for the elderly to remain active as the locally produced growth factors supplement the circulating IGF-1 levels.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2003

Exercise pressor reflex in decerebrate and anesthetized rats.

I investigated whether muscular contraction evokes cardiorespiratory increases (exercise pressor reflex) in alpha-chloralose- and chloral hydrate-anesthetized and precollicular, midcollicular, and postcollicular decerebrated rats. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and minute ventilation (Ve) were recorded before and during 1-min sciatic nerve stimulation, which induced static contraction of the triceps surae muscles, and during 1-min stretch of the calcaneal tendon, which selectively stimulated mechanosensitive receptors in the muscles. Anesthetized rats showed various patterns of MAP response to both stimuli, i.e., biphasic, depressor, pressor, and no response. Sciatic nerve stimulation to muscle in precollicular decerebrated rats always evoked spontaneous running, so the exercise pressor reflex was not determined from these preparations. None of the postcollicular decerebrated rats showed a MAP response or spontaneous running. Midcollicular decerebrated rats consistently showed biphasic blood pressure response to both stimulations. The increases in MAP, HR, and Ve were related to the tension developed. The static contractions in midcollicular decerebrated rats (381 +/- 65 g developed tension) significantly increased MAP, HR, and Ve from 103 +/- 12 to 119 +/- 24 mmHg, from 386 +/- 30 to 406 +/- 83 beats/min, and from 122 +/- 7 to 133 +/- 25 ml/min, respectively. After paralysis, sciatic nerve stimulation had no effect on MAP, HR, or Ve. These results indicate that the midcollicular decerebrated rat can be a model for the study of the exercise pressor reflex.

Anesthetics↗

PubMed1995

Rate of Temperature Decay in Human Muscle Following 3 MHz Ultrasound: The Stretching Window Revealed.

Researchers have determined that when therapeutic ultrasound vigorously heats connective tissue, it can be effective in increasing extensibility of collagen affected by scar tissue. These findings give credence to the use of continuous thermal ultrasound to heat tissue before stretching, exercise, or friction massage in an effort to decrease joint contractures and increase range of motion. Before our investigation, it was not known how long following an ultrasound treatment the tissue will remain at a vigorous heating level (>3 degrees C). We conducted this study to determine the rate of temperature decay following 3 MHz ultrasound, in order to determine the time period of optimal stretching. Twenty subjects had a 23-gauge hypodermic needle microprobe inserted 1.2 cm deep into the medial aspect of their anesthetized triceps surae muscle. Subjects then received a 3 MHz ultrasound treatment at 1.5 W/cm(2) until the tissue temperature was increased at least 5 degrees C. The mean baseline temperature before each treatment was 33.8 +/- 1.3 degrees C, and it peaked at 39.1 +/- 1.2 degrees C from the ultrasound. Immediately following the treatment, we recorded the rate at which the temperature dropped at 30-second intervals. We ran a stepwise nonlinear regression analysis to predict temperature decay as a function of time following ultrasound treatment. We found a significant nonlinear relationship between time and temperature decay. The average time it took for the temperature to drop each degree as expressed in minutes and seconds was: 1 degrees C = 1:20; 2 degrees C = 3:22; 3 degrees C = 5:50; 4 degrees C = 9:13; 5 degrees C = 14:55; 5.3 degrees C = 18:00 (baseline). We conclude that under similar circumstances where the tissue temperature is raised 5 degrees C, stretching will be effective, on average, for 3.3 minutes following an ultrasound treatment. To increase this stretching window, we suggest that stretching be applied during and immediately after ultrasound application.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Impression procedure for patients with severely limited mouth opening.

Patients with limited mouth opening are a common occurrence in prosthodontic practice. The majority of these patients can be treated with exercise and stretching movements before impressions are made. Some will not respond to these procedures because of facial scarring and surgical manipulation of the facial muscles. This article presents an impression procedure for overcoming such reduced mouth opening.

Dental Impression Technique↗

PubMed1989

[Development of functional stability of the musculoskeletal system in athletes in childhood and adolescence].

Based on the experience gained in sports medicine a review is given on the development of functional stability of the musculoskeletal and locomotive system in actively sporting children and adolescents. Inadequate physical exercise during the growth periods may result in maladaption. Children retarded in their musculoskeletal development exhibit a reduced exercise tolerance. A training system with a high amount of exercises strengthening muscles in general may improve the efficiency of the locomotive system. In school children deficient muscular training results in a progressive reduction of stretching capacity of back and thigh (upper part) muscles. With a view to primary prevention of premature disturbances of the musculoskeletal and articular systems more attention has to be attached to the development of functional stability by adequate physical training both at school and during free-time activities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1981

Myofascial trigger point syndromes: an approach to management.

The treatment of myofascial trigger point (TP) pain syndromes is not difficult once the source of the problem has been determined. Whereas many modalities may be used, two of the most effective are spray-and-stretch and TP injection. These can be followed by deep massage, specific, manual resistive exercises, and an exercise program which the patient can follow at home. The goal of management is to inactivate the TPs and to restore shortened and stretch resistant muscles to their full range of motion. A number of such syndromes are discussed in terms of recognition and management.

Back Pain↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Botulinum toxin injection of spastic finger flexors in hemiplegic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcomes of botulinum toxin injection of spastic finger flexors followed by intensive training of finger extensors. DESIGN: Fourteen subjects with chronic hemiplegia spasticity of the upper limb had electromyographic-guided botulinum toxin injection into the long finger flexors. All patients presented with minimal active finger extension with the wrist flexed, sustained clonus of the finger flexors, functional proximal arm function, and absence of fixed contracture. Cadaver dissections directed selection of two injection sites: the flexor digitorum sublimis and the flexor digitorum profundus. Fifty mouse units of botulinum toxin were injected into each muscle. After injection, the subjects were instructed in a home program of stretching the long finger flexors, upper limb weight bearing with a weight-bearing splint, and exercise to improve finger extension control. RESULTS: Compared with preinjection measures, assessment the first week after the initial injection showed significantly reduced tone, reduced clonus, and greater active finger extension with the wrist in the neutral position. Four months later, the Ashworth scale increased to preinjection levels in the six subjects with repeated injections but was again decreased postinjection. Active finger extension with the wrist in the neutral position and clonus showed a statistically nonsignificant trend toward cumulative improvement after the second injection. CONCLUSION: The greatest change in finger extension and spasticity reduction occurred after the first injection. Continued significant improvement in finger extension was not observed.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Effect of static stretching on prevention of injuries for military recruits.

This prospective study was designed to evaluate whether static stretching can prevent training-related injuries in Japan Ground Self-Defense Force military recruits. A total of 901 recruits between 1996 and 1998 were divided into two groups. Of which, 518 recruits were assigned to the stretching group and practiced static stretching before and after each physical training session. The control subjects (383 recruits in the nonstretching group) did not stretch statically prior to exercise. The static stretching consisted of 18 exercises. We collected injury data from medical records and assessed the incidence and the location of injury. The total injury rate was almost the same between two groups; however, the incidences of muscle/tendon injury and low back pain were significantly lower in the stretching group (p < 0.05). Static stretching decreased the incidence of muscle-related injuries but did not prevent bone or joint injuries.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Electrically induced static exercise elicits a pressor response in the decerebrate rat.

1. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if activation of the exercise pressor reflex in the decerebrate rat induced circulatory responses comparable to those reported in large mammalian species. 2. To activate both mechanically and metabolically sensitive afferent fibres, static hindlimb contractions were induced by stimulating the cut ends of L4 and L5 spinal ventral roots in Sprague-Dawley rats (300-400 g). To selectively stimulate mechanically sensitive receptors, hindlimb muscles were passively stretched. 3. In intact halothane-anaesthetized animals (n = 10), static contraction and passive stretch induced a decrease in mean arterial pressure (Delta MAP = -17 +/- 3 and -8 +/- 1 mmHg for contraction and stretch, respectively) and heart rate (HR). In contrast, MAP increased 23 +/- 2 mmHg during contraction and 19 +/- 3 mmHg during stretch in decerebrate rats (n = 10). These pressor responses were accompanied by a significant tachycardia. In decerebrate animals, the reintroduction of halothane attenuated the increase in MAP and HR caused by both contraction and stretch. 4. In both anaesthetized and decerebrate rats, sectioning the spinal dorsal roots innervating the activated skeletal muscle eliminated responses to contraction and stretch. This finding indicated that an intramuscular neural reflex mediated the response to each stimulus. 5. The results demonstrate that a decerebrate preparation in the rat is a reliable model for the study of the exercise pressor reflex. Development of the model would enable the study of this reflex in a variety of pathological conditions and allow investigation of the mechanisms controlling cardiovascular responses to exercise in health and disease.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Oestrogen status in relation to the early training responses in human thumb adductor muscles.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to identify the mechanisms for the early response to training in women of different oestrogen status and to determine whether any oestrogen and exercise effects on these would be additive. METHODS: We monitored training (ten 5-s contractions per day for 12 weeks)-induced changes in the size, strength, voluntary activation capacity and index of crossbridge force state (i.e. rapid stretch to isometric torque ratio), in the thumb adductor muscles of postmenopausal [eight who had never used, and 14 who were using, hormone replacement therapy (HRT)] and seven premenopausal eumenorrhoeic women. The contralateral untrained muscle was used as a control. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of oestrogen status on the magnitude of training-induced strength increment, with the non-HRT postmenopausal group exhibiting the greatest benefits (28 +/- 6%, P = 0.024) from training. There were no significant or commensurate changes in either cross-sectional area or voluntary activation capacity. The index of crossbridge force state improved most in the no-HRT group (19 +/- 7%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Presence, rather than absence of oestrogen, is associated with relatively higher muscle function which limits the potential for any further training-induced increments in muscle performance, as would be expected if the muscle strengthening actions of training and oestrogen share a common, partially saturable physiological pathway. The mechanism that is involved in the early training-induced strength increment in the three differing oestrogen groups cannot be due to increased size or recruitment. It would appear instead that increased motor unit firing frequency is involved.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[The conservative treatment of femur fractures by Perkins traction. Management in adverse situations].

In adverse situations and in hospitals of less prosperous countries, the operative treatment of fractures may for many reasons not be possible and conservative procedures remain the treatment of choice. This applies to the rule that under difficult conditions fracture treatment should be as conservative as possible and as operative as necessary, if at all feasible. This report goes on 109 Patients with femur fractures consecutively treated by Perkins traction in East African hospitals between Nov. 1991 and Sept. 1999. Out of them, 44 patients had wide open fractures, 41 of them caused by explosives and bullets. The Perkins procedure is a traction without a fixating splint. As soon as possible, the patient is forced to sit up in his bed, the removable parts of the springs are dropped and the patient starts with exercises flexing and stretching the knee. With the right traction weight and the bodys counterweight the fragments of the fracture find an alignment, and a malrotation of the distal fragment is prevented. Exercises as early as possible stimulate a rapid callus formation and prevent muscle atrophy and stiffness of the joints. We have seen 2 posttraumatic deep infections, 5 refractures in patients whose traction was removed too early or who fell down whilst walking with crutches. All patients had a good callus formation and in all patients, except two, the traction could be removed after 6-12 weeks, in the most cases even after 6-9 weeks. To the patients with refractures, the traction was reapplied and callus consolidation then occurred without major problems. At the time of removal of the traction all patients showed a flexion of the knee of at least 80 degrees -90 degrees and all were able to nearly fully stretch the knee joint.Compared with other methods of conservative treatment of femur fractures, Perkins traction has some advantages: simple management, immediate start of exercises, simple exercises, early callus formation, no stiffness of the joints and only few x-ray controls. Malalignment, non union, excessive shortening and rotation of the distal fragment are uncommon.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Role played by purinergic receptors on muscle afferents in evoking the exercise pressor reflex.

The exercise pressor reflex is believed to be evoked, in part, by multiple metabolic stimuli that are generated when blood supply to exercising muscles is inadequate to meet metabolic demand. Recently, ATP, which is a P2 receptor agonist, has been suggested to be one of the metabolic stimuli evoking this reflex. We therefore tested the hypothesis that blockade of P2 receptors within contracting skeletal muscle attenuated the exercise pressor reflex in decerebrate cats. We found that popliteal arterial injection of pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS; 10 mg/kg), a P2 receptor antagonist, attenuated the pressor response to static contraction of the triceps surae muscles. Specifically, the pressor response to contraction before PPADS averaged 36 +/- 3 mmHg, whereas afterward it averaged 14 +/- 3 mmHg (P < 0.001; n = 19). In addition, PPADS attenuated the pressor response to postcontraction circulatory occlusion (P < 0.01; n = 11). In contrast, popliteal arterial injection of CGS-15943 (250 micro g/kg), a P1 receptor antagonist, had no effect on the pressor response to static contraction of the triceps surae muscles. In addition, popliteal arterial injection of PPADS but not CGS-15943 attenuated the pressor response to stretch of the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon. We conclude that P2 receptors on the endings of thin fiber muscle afferents play a role in evoking both the metabolic and mechanoreceptor components of the exercise pressor reflex.

Achilles Tendon↗

PubMed2006

Changes in the soleus stretch reflex at different pedaling frequencies and crank loads during pedaling.

The influence of pedaling frequency and crank load on the sensitivity of the soleus short latency stretch reflex (SLR) was examined in nine healthy subjects during pedaling by the use of a custom-built robotic actuator. The SLR decreased successively in downstroke when pedaling frequency increased from 20 to 40 and 60 revolutions per minute at a constant crank load (p = .005). The SLR was unchanged at crank load increases of 2.6 or 5.1 Nm at a constant pedaling frequency (p > .05). Accordingly, it was shown that increased muscle activation level as a consequence of added crank load and increased movement speed does not increase the sensitivity of the soleus SLR.

Adult↗