Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound study
Abstract A recent in-vivo experiment has shown that force can be transmitted between the gastrocnemius and the hamstring muscles due to a direct tissue continuity. However, it remains unclear if this mechanical interaction is affected by the stiffness of the structural connection. This study therefo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30407-3 |
| _version_ | 1797864766860951552 |
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| author | Lisa Mohr Lutz Vogt Christian Thiel Michael Behringer Jan Wilke |
| author_facet | Lisa Mohr Lutz Vogt Christian Thiel Michael Behringer Jan Wilke |
| author_sort | Lisa Mohr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A recent in-vivo experiment has shown that force can be transmitted between the gastrocnemius and the hamstring muscles due to a direct tissue continuity. However, it remains unclear if this mechanical interaction is affected by the stiffness of the structural connection. This study therefore aimed to investigate the impact of the knee angle on myofascial force transmission across the dorsal knee. A randomized, cross-over study was performed, including n = 56 healthy participants (25.36 ± 3.9 years, 25 females). On two separate days, they adopted a prone position on an isokinetic dynamometer (knee extended or 60° flexed). In each condition, the device moved the ankle three times from maximal plantarflexion to maximal dorsal extension. Muscle inactivity was ensured using EMG. High-resolution ultrasound videos of the semimembranosus (SM) and the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) soft tissue were recorded. Maximal horizontal tissue displacement, obtained using cross-correlation, was examined as a surrogate of force transmission. SM tissue displacement was higher at extended (4.83 ± 2.04 mm) than at flexed knees (3.81 ± 2.36 mm). Linear regression demonstrated significant associations between (1) SM and GM soft tissue displacement (extended: R2 = 0.18, p = 0.001; flexed: R2 = 0.17, p = 0.002) as well as (2) SM soft tissue displacement and ankle range of motion (extended: R2 = 0.103, p = 0.017; flexed: R2 = 0.095, p = 0.022). Our results further strengthen the evidence that local stretching induces a force transmission to neighboring muscles. Resulting remote exercise effects such as increased range of motion, seem to depend on the stiffness of the continuity. Trial registration: DRKS (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien), registration number DRKS00024420, first registered 08/02/2021, https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00024420 . |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:58:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2d1a08a1de348678511eb2465faa11d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:58:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2d1a08a1de348678511eb2465faa11d2023-03-22T11:09:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-03-011311810.1038/s41598-023-30407-3Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound studyLisa Mohr0Lutz Vogt1Christian Thiel2Michael Behringer3Jan Wilke4Department of Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology, Institute of Sports Sciences, Goethe University FrankfurtDepartment of Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology, Institute of Sports Sciences, Goethe University FrankfurtDivision of Physiotherapy, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Hochschule für Gesundheit (University of Applied Sciences)Department of Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology, Institute of Sports Sciences, Goethe University FrankfurtDivision of Health and Performance, Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe UniversityAbstract A recent in-vivo experiment has shown that force can be transmitted between the gastrocnemius and the hamstring muscles due to a direct tissue continuity. However, it remains unclear if this mechanical interaction is affected by the stiffness of the structural connection. This study therefore aimed to investigate the impact of the knee angle on myofascial force transmission across the dorsal knee. A randomized, cross-over study was performed, including n = 56 healthy participants (25.36 ± 3.9 years, 25 females). On two separate days, they adopted a prone position on an isokinetic dynamometer (knee extended or 60° flexed). In each condition, the device moved the ankle three times from maximal plantarflexion to maximal dorsal extension. Muscle inactivity was ensured using EMG. High-resolution ultrasound videos of the semimembranosus (SM) and the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) soft tissue were recorded. Maximal horizontal tissue displacement, obtained using cross-correlation, was examined as a surrogate of force transmission. SM tissue displacement was higher at extended (4.83 ± 2.04 mm) than at flexed knees (3.81 ± 2.36 mm). Linear regression demonstrated significant associations between (1) SM and GM soft tissue displacement (extended: R2 = 0.18, p = 0.001; flexed: R2 = 0.17, p = 0.002) as well as (2) SM soft tissue displacement and ankle range of motion (extended: R2 = 0.103, p = 0.017; flexed: R2 = 0.095, p = 0.022). Our results further strengthen the evidence that local stretching induces a force transmission to neighboring muscles. Resulting remote exercise effects such as increased range of motion, seem to depend on the stiffness of the continuity. Trial registration: DRKS (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien), registration number DRKS00024420, first registered 08/02/2021, https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00024420 .https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30407-3 |
| spellingShingle | Lisa Mohr Lutz Vogt Christian Thiel Michael Behringer Jan Wilke Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound study Scientific Reports |
| title | Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound study |
| title_full | Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound study |
| title_fullStr | Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound study |
| title_short | Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound study |
| title_sort | myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle an ultrasound study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30407-3 |
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