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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Relaxation training through muscle stretching procedures: a pilot case.

The present paper introduces a relaxation procedure based upon muscle stretching exercises. Traditional progressive relaxation training starts from muscle tensing exercises to teach voluntary control of muscle tension, but the literature shows widely varying results. An alternative method of relaxation training starts from muscle stretching exercises. Muscle stretching provides sensation contrasts for learning relaxation in addition to fostering relaxation through the stretching of muscles. The present report documents the rationale for the procedure and presents data from a clinical case study, including six months' follow-up, in support of its efficacy.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1978

Reconditioning aging muscles.

Weakness or stiffness of key posture muscles can cause much of the disability seen in elderly patients. Too much tension and too little exercise greatly increase the natural loss of muscular fitness with age. A systematic program of exercise, stressing relaxation and stretching of tight muscles and strenghthening of weak muscles, can improve physical fitness. The program must be tailored to the patient, starting with relaxation and gentle limbering exercises and proceeding ultimately to vigorous muscle-stretching exercises. Muscle aches and pain from tension and muscle imbalance are to be expected. Relaxation relieves tension pain, and strengthening weak muscles and stretching tight muscles will correct muscle imbalance. To prevent acute muscle spasm, the patient should avoid excessive exertion and increase exercise intensity gradually.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Effects of ankle dorsiflexion range and pre-exercise calf muscle stretching on injury risk in Army recruits.

This study investigated effects of ankle dorsiflexion range and pre-exercise calf muscle stretching on relative risk of selected injuries in 1093 male Army recruits undertaking 12 weeks of intensive training. Prior to training, ankle dorsiflexion range was measured and recruits were allocated to stretch and control groups using a quasi-random procedure. The stretch group stretched calf muscles under supervision prior to all intense exercise. The control group stretched upper limb muscles instead. Forty-eight injuries were recorded. Survival analysis indicated that ankle dorsiflexion range was a strong predictor of injury (p = 0.03). Definitive evidence of an effect of stretching on injury risk was not found (p = 0.76), but the sample size may have been insufficient to detect such an effect.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Muscle stretching as an alternative relaxation training procedure.

The purpose of this program of research was to explore the use of muscle stretching procedures in relaxation training with a clinical population. In the first controlled study, stretching exercises for four muscle groups (obicularis occuli, sternocleidomastoid/trapezius, triceps/pectoralis major, and forearm/wrist flexors) were prepared. A group of people using these procedures (SR, N = 8) was compared to a group using the Bernstein and Borkovec (1973) tense-release (TR; N = 8) techniques for those same muscle groups, as well as compared to an appropriate group of controls (WL; N = 8). Assessment of physiological (multi-site EMG) and subjective (emotions, muscle tension, and self-efficacy) responses showed that persons in the SR displayed less sadness, less self-reported muscle tension at four sites, and less EMG activity on the r.masseter than persons in the TR group. In the second study, 15 subjects were administered an expanded version of the SR relaxation procedures. Results showed that all subjects reported significant decreases in self-reported levels of muscle tension; muscle tension responders showed lowered trapezius EMG and respiration rates and cardiovascular responders showed lowered diastolic blood pressure. The results are discussed in terms of the utility of relaxation procedures based primarily on muscle stretching exercises for lowering subjective and objective states of arousal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Physical procedures in the treatment of overuse injury syndromes of the locomotor system].

As a rule, the treatment of the overuse syndrome in the locomotor's system is non-surgical, and surgical treatment is needed on rare occasions. Non-surgical treatment should start as soon as possible. The first step is to half or modify sports activities. The treatment includes administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, stretching exercises, and the strengthening of affected muscles. The programme should be adapted to the patient, taking into account the localization and the degree of the injury, as well as his/her sport or work-related activities. The RICE therapeutic programme is important in the treatment of overuse syndromes, especially within the first 72 hours from the occurrence of first symptoms, as it shortens the duration of convalescence for as much as 50%-70%. Beside stabilisation of the joint with optimal loading of antagonistic muscles, stretching exercises have the leading position in prevention and treatment of overuse injuries. During rehabilitation, it is necessary to change activity, its duration and intensity. When a person successfully resumes its sports activities with full load, the rehabilitation is considered completed. No surgical or non-surgical method can warrant a hundred percent recovery for any localization of overuse injury. Prevention, education, and close co-operation between the physician, athlete, and the coach is therefore crucial and is receiving increasing attention.

Cumulative Trauma Disorders↗
PubMed2003

Effect of muscle activity and botulinum toxin dilution volume on muscle paralysis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A, Botox) dilution volume and post-injection exercise with electrical stimulation on muscle paralysis. We injected 10 units of BTX-A diluted with 0.1 ml (B1, n=8) or 0.5 ml (B5, n=8) normal saline into both gastrocnemius muscles of 16 New Zealand white rabbits; two controls received no BTX-A. After BTX-A injection, all rabbits received calf muscle stretching exercise and electrical stimulation for 2 hours on the left leg. The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) decrease was most pronounced at 1 week and progressive recovery was observed (i.e. recovery from paralysis, increase of CMAP). There was a significant decrease of CMAP amplitudes in the B5 group compared with the B1 group at week 1 and week 4 (p<0.001). Left limbs with stretching exercise and electrical stimulation showed lower CMAP amplitudes compared with control right limbs of all rabbits. To maximize the muscle paralysis effect of BTX-A, increasing dilution volume and performing post-injection stretching exercise with electrical stimulation may be a promising strategy for increasing the beneficial effect of BTX-A treatment. Future studies are needed to investigate the clinical application of this finding.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Passive stretching produces Akt- and MAPK-dependent augmentations of GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake in skeletal muscles of mice.

Muscle contraction is accompanied by passive stretching or deformation of cells and tissues. The present study aims to clarify whether or not acute passive stretching evokes glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation and glucose uptake in skeletal muscles of mice. Passive stretching mainly induced GLUT4 translocation from an intracellular membrane-rich fraction (PF5) to a plasma membrane-rich fraction (F2) and accelerated glucose uptake in hindlimb muscles; whereas electrical stimulation, which mimics physical exercise in vivo, and insulin, each induced GLUT4 translocation from an intracellular membrane-rich fraction (PF5) to a fraction rich in plasma membrane (F2), and to one rich in transverse tubules (PF3), along with subsequent glucose uptake. Mechanical stretching increased phosphorylation of Akt and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), but it had no apparent effect on the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Electrical stimulation augmented the activity of not only AMPK but also phosphorylation of Akt and p38 MAPK. Our results suggest that passive stretching produces translocation of GLUT4 mainly from the fraction rich in intracellular membrane to that rich in plasma membrane, and that the glucose uptake could be Akt- and p38 MAPK-dependent, but AMPK-independent manners.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of eccentric exercise in treatment of patellar tendinitis.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a quadriceps femoris muscle eccentric training program on strength gain in patients with patellar tendinitis. The effect of an eight-week eccentric exercise program on quadriceps femoris muscle work was evaluated in four groups of subjects--two groups of "normal" (healthy) subjects and two groups of patients with patellar tendinitis. All four groups participated in a home muscle stretching exercise program, but only two groups--one group of normal subjects (N-A) and one group of subjects with tendinitis (T-A)--received additional eccentric training on an eccentric isokinetic dynamometer. The eccentric quadriceps femoris muscle work ratio (involved limb/uninvolved limb x 100) was used to quantify strength in the N-A and T-A Groups. Pain ratings were recorded for subjects with tendinitis before and after the eight-week experiment and were correlated with the dependent variable using a Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient. The N-A Group performed significantly better than all subjects with tendinitis (p less than .05). Subjects in the T-A Group, however, showed a trend toward increasing eccentric quadriceps femoris muscle work capacity over the eight-week training period. As pain ratings in the T-A Group increased, work ratios decreased. We concluded that eccentric exercise may be an effective treatment for patellar tendinitis, but that knee pain may limit optimal gains in strength.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Stretch-based relaxation training.

This paper is a review of progressive relaxation training based on muscle stretching exercises. Stretch-based relaxation training is an alternative to traditional tense-release methods for teaching self-regulation of muscle activity. The rationale and basic procedures for stretch-based relaxation are presented, along with a review of research studies exploring the clinical efficacy of the techniques. Experimental evidence has demonstrated decreases in subjective measures of muscle tension and activation, as well as decreases in EMG activity at selected target muscle sites when stretch-based relaxation procedures are employed. The clinical application of stretch-based relaxation is presented and illustrated with a case study describing the use of these procedures to assist in the treatment of neck tension/pain and anxiety. Discussion centers on the potential role of stretch-based relaxation in the management of anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The profile and distribution of myosin heavy chain isoforms in middle-aged sedentary persons.

AIM: Human lifestyle has drastically changed during the past century as the share of physical work in daily life has decreased. The purpose of the present study was to examine the distribution of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms in middle-aged sedentary persons, to compare the proportion of MHC isoforms of middle-aged and young sedentary persons and to demonstrate the effect of physical activity of MHC isoforms in middle-aged sedentary persons. METHODS: Eighty-nine middle-aged sedentary and 13 young sedentary persons volunteered for the study. Thirty middle-aged sedentary subjects participated in strength-conditional exercise program during 9 months. Vertical jumping height and maximal anaerobic work capacity were measured. Muscle samples were taken from vastus lateralis muscle. MHC isoform composition was determined by SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: Variation of MHC I and MHC IIa isoforms in middle-age sedentary persons demonstrated normal distribution. Significant differences of MHC isoform proportions between middle-aged and young sedentary participants were not observed. The proportion of MHC IIx decreased significantly after the exercise period that significantly improved the maximal anaerobic power and jumping height of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Normal distribution illustrated the proportion of MHC I and MHC IIa isoforms in 89 middle-aged sedentary persons while significant differences of MHC isoforms proportion between young and middle-aged sedentary persons were not observed. Even small increase of physical activity improved physical performance and decrease the MHC IIx proportion of middle-aged sedentary persons. Physically active lifestyle in middle age, when age-related changes have not started yet, may delay age-related changes in skeletal muscle.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Chronic stretching and running economy.

Research demonstrates an inverse relationship between the range of motion of selected joint movements (flexibility) and running economy. Since stretching exercises have been shown to increase joint range of motion, stretching exercises may be contraindicated for endurance running performance. Hence, this study investigated the influence of a 10-week program of stretching exercises on the oxygen costs of a 10 min sub-maximal (approx. 70% peak VO(2)) treadmill run. Thirty-two (16 female, 16 male) physically active, treadmill accommodated, college students participated in the study. All participants maintained their current activity level, with half the participants (8 female, 8 male) adding a 40 min, 3 days per week session of thigh and calf muscle stretching exercises. After 10 weeks, the stretching group (STR) exhibited a significant (P<0.05) increase (3.1+/-2.2 cm) in the sit-and-reach, while the non-stretching group (CON) experienced no significant (P>0.05) change (0.0+/-0.4 cm). However, neither the STR nor the CON exhibited a significant (P>0.05) change in the O(2) cost for the submaximal run. It is concluded, therefore, that a chronic stretching program does not necessarily negatively influence running economy.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Resistance training and locomotor recovery after incomplete spinal cord injury: a case series.

STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal intervention case series. OBJECTIVE: To determine if a 12-week resistance and plyometric training program results in improved muscle function and locomotor speed after incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: University research setting. METHODS: Three ambulatory individuals with chronic (18.7+/-2.2 months post injury) motor incomplete SCI completed 12 weeks of lower extremity resistance training combined with plyometric training (RPT). Muscle maximum cross-sectional area (max-CSA) of the knee extensor (KE) and plantar flexor (PF) muscle groups was determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, peak isometric torque, time to peak torque (T (20-80)), torque developed within the initial 220 ms of contraction (torque(220)) and average rate of torque development (ARTD) were calculated as indices of muscle function. Maximal as well as self-selected gait speeds were determined pre- and post-RPT during which the spatio-temporal characteristics, kinematics and kinetics of gait were measured. RESULTS: RPT resulted in improved peak torque production in the KE (28.9+/-4.4%) and PF (35.0+/-9.1%) muscle groups, as well as a decrease in T(20-80), an increased torque(220) and an increase ARTD in both muscle groups. In addition, an increase in self-selected (pre-RPT=0.77 m/s; post-RPT=1.03 m/s) and maximum (pre-RPT=1.08 m/s; post-RPT=1.47 m/s) gait speed was realized. Increased gait speeds were accompanied by bilateral increases in propulsion and hip excursion as well as increased lower extremity joint powers. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of lower extremity RPT can attenuate existing neuromuscular impairments and improve gait speed in persons after incomplete SCI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Superficial versus deep dry needling.

Ninety percent of my patients with myofascial trigger point (MTrP) pain have this alone and are treated with superficial dry needling. Approximately 10% have concomitant MTrP pain and nerve root compression pain. These are treated with deep dry needling. SUPERFICIAL DRY NEEDLING (SDN): The activated and sensitised nociceptors of a MTrP cause it to be so exquisitely tender that firm pressure applied to it gives rise to a flexion withdrawal reflex (jump sign) and in some cases the utterance of an expletive (shout sign). The optimum strength of SDN at a MTrP site is the minimum necessary to abolish these two reactions. With respect to this patients are divided into strong, average and weak responders. The responsiveness of each individual is determined by trial and error. It is my practice to insert a needle (0.3mm x 30mm) into the tissues immediately overlying the MTrP to a depth of 5-10 mm and to leave it in situ long enough for the two reactions to be abolished. For an average reactor this is about 30secs. For a weak reactor it is several minutes. And for a strong reactor the insertion of the needle and its immediate withdrawal is all that is required. Following treatment muscle stretching exercises should be carried out, and any steps taken to eliminate factors that might lead to the reactivation of the MTrPs. DEEP DRY NEEDLING (DDN): This in my practice is only used either when primary MTrP activity causes shortening of muscle sufficient enough to bring about compression of nerve roots. Or when there is nerve compression pain usually from spondylosis or disc prolapse and the secondary development of MTrP activity. Unlike SDN, DDN is a painful procedure and one which gives rise to much post-treatment soreness.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMed2006

Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes and physical training on gene expression of titin-based stretch-sensing complexes in mouse striated muscle.

In striated muscle, a sarcomeric noncontractile protein, titin, is proposed to form the backbone of the stress- and strain-sensing structures. We investigated the effects of diabetes, physical training, and their combination on the gene expression of proteins of putative titin stretch-sensing complexes in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Mice were divided into control (C), training (T), streptozotocin-induced diabetic (D), and diabetic training (DT) groups. Training groups performed for 1, 3, or 5 wk of endurance training on a motor-driven treadmill. Muscle samples from T and DT groups together with respective controls were collected 24 h after the last training session. Gene expression of calf muscles (soleus, gastrocnemius, and plantaris) and cardiac muscle were analyzed using microarray and quantitative PCR. Diabetes induced changes in mRNA expression of the proteins of titin stretch-sensing complexes in Z-disc (MLP, myostatin), I-band (CARP, Ankrd2), and M-line (titin kinase signaling). Training alleviated diabetes-induced changes in most affected mRNA levels in skeletal muscle but only one change in cardiac muscle. In conclusion, we showed diabetes-induced changes in mRNA levels of several fiber-type-biased proteins (MLP, myostatin, Ankrd2) in skeletal muscle. These results are consistent with previous observations of diabetes-induced atrophy leading to slower fiber type composition. The ability of exercise to alleviate diabetes-induced changes may indicate slower transition of fiber type.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Effects of an exercise program on muscle performance in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been successfully used for the treatment of several hematological malignancies; however, it is associated with transplant-related toxicities such as functional impairment and muscle weakness. In order to analyze how an exercise program may influence muscle strength in patients undergoing BMT, we carried out a prospective study assessing patients from the pre-BMT phase to 16 weeks post-BMT. In all, 18 patients underwent three trials: (1) pre-BMT, (2) after marrow engraftment, and (3) 6 weeks after trial 2. After trial 2, the patients were randomized in a control group (CG) or treatment group (TG), which received a 6-week exercise program with active exercise, muscle stretching and treadmill walking. The results obtained in trial 1 showed similar values for CG and TG, as both groups had muscle strength lower than normal patterns based on data concerning age, sex and weight. In trial 2, CG and TG showed similarly decreased values. In trial 3, TG showed values higher than CG for all muscle groups tested. These results suggest that the exercise program was efficient in promoting an increase of muscle strength after allogeneic BMT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Short bouts of stretching increase myo-D, myostatin and atrogin-1 in rat soleus muscle.

Stretching is widely used in rehabilitation and sports activities to improve joint range-of-motion and flexibility in humans, but the effect of stretching on the gene expression of skeletal muscle is poorly understood. We evaluated the effect of short bouts of passive stretching of rat soleus muscle on myo-D, myostatin, and atrogin-1 gene expressions. Six groups of animals were submitted to a single session of stretching (10 stretches of 1 minute with 30 seconds of rest between them, performed manually) and were evaluated immediately (I), and 8, 24, 48, 72, and 168 hours after the session. To evaluate the effect of repetitive sessions of stretching on the soleus muscle over 1 week, three groups of animals received a single session per day of stretching and the muscle was evaluated immediately after 2, 3, and 7 sessions. The mRNA levels of myo-D, myostatin, and atrogin-1 were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. A single session of stretching increased the mRNA levels of myo-D (after 24 h), myostatin (I, and 168 h later), and atrogin-1 (after 48 h). Repeated daily session of stretching over 1 week increased myostatin (after 7 sessions) and atrogin-1 expression (after 2, 3, and 7 sessions). Thus, short bouts of passive stretching are able to increase the gene expression of factors associated with muscle growth (myo-D), negative regulation of muscle mass (myostatin), and atrophy (atrogin-1), indicating muscle remodeling through different pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

mTOR pathway inhibition attenuates skeletal muscle growth induced by stretching.

The present study has aimed to verify the influence of calcineurin and mTOR pathways in skeletal muscle longitudinal growth induced by stretching. Male Wistar rats were treated with cyclosporin-A or rapamycin for 10 days. To promote muscle stretching, casts were positioned so as completely to dorsiflex the plantar-flexor muscles at the ankle in one hind limb during the last 4 days of treatment with either cyclosporin-A or rapamycin. Thereafter, we determined soleus length, weight, protein content, and phenotype. In addition, NFATc1, Raptor, S6K1, 4E-BP1, iNOS, and nNOS gene expression in the soleus were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Soleus length, weight, and protein content were significantly reduced by rapamycin treatment in animals submitted to stretching (P<0.05). In contrast, cyclosporin-A treatment did not alter these parameters. In all cyclosporin-A treated groups, there was a significant reduction in NFATc1 expression (P<0.001). Similarly, a significant reduction was noted in Raptor (P<0.001) and S6K1 (P<0.01) expression in all rapamycin-treated groups. No alteration was observed in 4E-BP1 gene expression among rapamycin-treated groups. Stretching increased gene expression of both NOS isoforms in skeletal muscle. Rapamycin treatment did not interfere with NOS gene expression (P<0.05). Cyclosporin-A treatment did not impair muscle growth induced by stretching but instead caused a marked slow-to-fast fiber shift in the soleus; this was attenuated by stretching. The data presented herein indicate that mTOR pathway is involved in skeletal muscle longitudinal growth.

Animals↗