Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients
Background Alterations in skeletal muscle function and architecture have been linked to the compromised exercise capacity characterizing chronic heart failure (CHF). However, how passive skeletal muscle force is affected in CHF is not clear. Understanding passive force characteristics in CHF can hel...
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2016-09-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/2447.pdf |
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| author | Fausto Antonio Panizzolo Andrew J. Maiorana Louise H. Naylor Lawrence G. Dembo David G. Lloyd Daniel J. Green Jonas Rubenson |
| author_facet | Fausto Antonio Panizzolo Andrew J. Maiorana Louise H. Naylor Lawrence G. Dembo David G. Lloyd Daniel J. Green Jonas Rubenson |
| author_sort | Fausto Antonio Panizzolo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Alterations in skeletal muscle function and architecture have been linked to the compromised exercise capacity characterizing chronic heart failure (CHF). However, how passive skeletal muscle force is affected in CHF is not clear. Understanding passive force characteristics in CHF can help further elucidate the extent to which altered contractile properties and/or architecture might affect muscle and locomotor function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate passive force in a single muscle for which non-invasive measures of muscle size and estimates of fiber force are possible, the soleus (SOL), both in CHF patients and age- and physical activity-matched control participants. Methods Passive SOL muscle force and size were obtained by means of a novel approach combining experimental data (dynamometry, electromyography, ultrasound imaging) with a musculoskeletal model. Results We found reduced passive SOL forces (∼30%) (at the same relative levels of muscle stretch) in CHF vs. healthy individuals. This difference was eliminated when force was normalized by physiological cross sectional area, indicating that reduced force output may be most strongly associated with muscle size. Nevertheless, passive force was significantly higher in CHF at a given absolute muscle length (non length-normalized) and likely explained by the shorter muscle slack lengths and optimal muscle lengths measured in CHF compared to the control participants. This later factor may lead to altered performance of the SOL in functional tasks such gait. Discussion These findings suggest introducing exercise rehabilitation targeting muscle hypertrophy and, specifically for the calf muscles, exercise that promotes muscle lengthening. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:49:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf83449dd0e049d48270925e89a8f86b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:49:36Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf83449dd0e049d48270925e89a8f86b2023-12-03T10:31:36ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592016-09-014e244710.7717/peerj.2447Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patientsFausto Antonio Panizzolo0Andrew J. Maiorana1Louise H. Naylor2Lawrence G. Dembo3David G. Lloyd4Daniel J. Green5Jonas Rubenson6John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United StatesAdvanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Service, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, AustraliaThe School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, AustraliaEnvision Medical Imaging, Perth, WA, AustraliaCentre for Musculoskeletal Research, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, AustraliaThe School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, AustraliaThe School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, AustraliaBackground Alterations in skeletal muscle function and architecture have been linked to the compromised exercise capacity characterizing chronic heart failure (CHF). However, how passive skeletal muscle force is affected in CHF is not clear. Understanding passive force characteristics in CHF can help further elucidate the extent to which altered contractile properties and/or architecture might affect muscle and locomotor function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate passive force in a single muscle for which non-invasive measures of muscle size and estimates of fiber force are possible, the soleus (SOL), both in CHF patients and age- and physical activity-matched control participants. Methods Passive SOL muscle force and size were obtained by means of a novel approach combining experimental data (dynamometry, electromyography, ultrasound imaging) with a musculoskeletal model. Results We found reduced passive SOL forces (∼30%) (at the same relative levels of muscle stretch) in CHF vs. healthy individuals. This difference was eliminated when force was normalized by physiological cross sectional area, indicating that reduced force output may be most strongly associated with muscle size. Nevertheless, passive force was significantly higher in CHF at a given absolute muscle length (non length-normalized) and likely explained by the shorter muscle slack lengths and optimal muscle lengths measured in CHF compared to the control participants. This later factor may lead to altered performance of the SOL in functional tasks such gait. Discussion These findings suggest introducing exercise rehabilitation targeting muscle hypertrophy and, specifically for the calf muscles, exercise that promotes muscle lengthening.https://peerj.com/articles/2447.pdfHeart failureSkeletal muscleSoleusPassive forceUltrasound |
| spellingShingle | Fausto Antonio Panizzolo Andrew J. Maiorana Louise H. Naylor Lawrence G. Dembo David G. Lloyd Daniel J. Green Jonas Rubenson Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients PeerJ Heart failure Skeletal muscle Soleus Passive force Ultrasound |
| title | Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients |
| title_full | Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients |
| title_fullStr | Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients |
| title_short | Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients |
| title_sort | muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients |
| topic | Heart failure Skeletal muscle Soleus Passive force Ultrasound |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/2447.pdf |
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