Evidence for Muscle Cell-Based Mechanisms of Enhanced Performance in Stretch-Shortening Cycle in Skeletal Muscle
Force attained during concentric contraction (active shortening) is transiently enhanced following eccentric contraction (active stretch) in skeletal muscle. This phenomenon is called stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) effect. Since many human movements contain combinations of eccentric and concentric c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.609553/full |
| _version_ | 1818945037144162304 |
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| author | Atsuki Fukutani Atsuki Fukutani Tadao Isaka Walter Herzog |
| author_facet | Atsuki Fukutani Atsuki Fukutani Tadao Isaka Walter Herzog |
| author_sort | Atsuki Fukutani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Force attained during concentric contraction (active shortening) is transiently enhanced following eccentric contraction (active stretch) in skeletal muscle. This phenomenon is called stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) effect. Since many human movements contain combinations of eccentric and concentric contractions, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the SSC effect would be useful for improving physical performance, optimizing human movement efficiency, and providing an understanding of fundamental mechanism of muscle force control. Currently, the most common mechanisms proposed for the SSC effect are (i) stretch-reflex activation and (ii) storage of energy in tendons. However, abundant SSC effects have been observed in single fiber preparations where stretch-reflex activation is eliminated and storage of energy in tendons is minimal at best. Therefore, it seems prudent to hypothesize that factor(s) other than stretch-reflex activation and energy storage in tendons contribute to the SSC effect. In this brief review, we focus on possible candidate mechanisms for the SSC effect, that is, pre-activation, cross-bridge kinetics, and residual force enhancement (RFE) obtained in experimental preparations that exclude/control the influence of stretch-reflex activation and energy storage in tendons. Recent evidence supports the contribution of these factors to the mechanism of SSCs, and suggests that the extent of their contribution varies depending on the contractile conditions. Evidence for and against alternative mechanisms are introduced and discussed, and unresolved problems are mentioned for inspiring future studies in this field of research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T07:52:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-942305799cd5476e96dfec233af0c812 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T07:52:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-942305799cd5476e96dfec233af0c8122022-12-21T19:47:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2021-01-011110.3389/fphys.2020.609553609553Evidence for Muscle Cell-Based Mechanisms of Enhanced Performance in Stretch-Shortening Cycle in Skeletal MuscleAtsuki Fukutani0Atsuki Fukutani1Tadao Isaka2Walter Herzog3Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, JapanDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, SwedenFaculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, JapanFaculty of Kinesiology, The University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaForce attained during concentric contraction (active shortening) is transiently enhanced following eccentric contraction (active stretch) in skeletal muscle. This phenomenon is called stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) effect. Since many human movements contain combinations of eccentric and concentric contractions, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the SSC effect would be useful for improving physical performance, optimizing human movement efficiency, and providing an understanding of fundamental mechanism of muscle force control. Currently, the most common mechanisms proposed for the SSC effect are (i) stretch-reflex activation and (ii) storage of energy in tendons. However, abundant SSC effects have been observed in single fiber preparations where stretch-reflex activation is eliminated and storage of energy in tendons is minimal at best. Therefore, it seems prudent to hypothesize that factor(s) other than stretch-reflex activation and energy storage in tendons contribute to the SSC effect. In this brief review, we focus on possible candidate mechanisms for the SSC effect, that is, pre-activation, cross-bridge kinetics, and residual force enhancement (RFE) obtained in experimental preparations that exclude/control the influence of stretch-reflex activation and energy storage in tendons. Recent evidence supports the contribution of these factors to the mechanism of SSCs, and suggests that the extent of their contribution varies depending on the contractile conditions. Evidence for and against alternative mechanisms are introduced and discussed, and unresolved problems are mentioned for inspiring future studies in this field of research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.609553/fullpre-activationcross-bridge theoryresidual force enhancementtitinelastic energy storageeccentric muscle action |
| spellingShingle | Atsuki Fukutani Atsuki Fukutani Tadao Isaka Walter Herzog Evidence for Muscle Cell-Based Mechanisms of Enhanced Performance in Stretch-Shortening Cycle in Skeletal Muscle Frontiers in Physiology pre-activation cross-bridge theory residual force enhancement titin elastic energy storage eccentric muscle action |
| title | Evidence for Muscle Cell-Based Mechanisms of Enhanced Performance in Stretch-Shortening Cycle in Skeletal Muscle |
| title_full | Evidence for Muscle Cell-Based Mechanisms of Enhanced Performance in Stretch-Shortening Cycle in Skeletal Muscle |
| title_fullStr | Evidence for Muscle Cell-Based Mechanisms of Enhanced Performance in Stretch-Shortening Cycle in Skeletal Muscle |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence for Muscle Cell-Based Mechanisms of Enhanced Performance in Stretch-Shortening Cycle in Skeletal Muscle |
| title_short | Evidence for Muscle Cell-Based Mechanisms of Enhanced Performance in Stretch-Shortening Cycle in Skeletal Muscle |
| title_sort | evidence for muscle cell based mechanisms of enhanced performance in stretch shortening cycle in skeletal muscle |
| topic | pre-activation cross-bridge theory residual force enhancement titin elastic energy storage eccentric muscle action |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.609553/full |
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