Shortening of muscle fibres during stretch of the active cat medial gastrocnemius muscle: the role of tendon compliance.

Griffiths, R.I.

doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1991.sp018547

Cited by 330 publications

(289 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The vast majority of muscle fascicle lengthening happened later in the event, when there was relatively little joint flexion. This decoupling of joint motion and muscle fascicle lengthening during an energy-absorption event has been observed in maximally stimulated muscles in situ [14,16], and in maximal voluntary contractions in human dynamometer studies [15]. A recent study of stair walking found a similar pattern in the human gastrocnemius: the muscle fascicles shortened early in the step as the MTU lengthened, followed by tendon shortening against lengthening of the muscle fascicles [28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Muscle power attenuation by tendon during energy dissipation

2011

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An important function of skeletal muscle is deceleration via active muscle fascicle lengthening, which dissipates movement energy. The mechanical interplay between muscle contraction and tendon elasticity is critical when muscles produce energy. However, the role of tendon elasticity during muscular energy dissipation remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that tendon elasticity functions as a mechanical buffer, preventing high (and probably damaging) velocities and powers during active muscle fascicle lengthening. We directly measured lateral gastrocnemius muscle force and length in wild turkeys during controlled landings requiring rapid energy dissipation. Muscle-tendon unit (MTU) strain was measured via video kinematics, independent of muscle fascicle strain (measured via sonomicrometry). We found that rapid MTU lengthening immediately following impact involved little or no muscle fascicle lengthening. Therefore, joint flexion had to be accommodated by tendon stretch. After the early contact period, muscle fascicles lengthened and absorbed energy. This late lengthening occurred after most of the joint flexion, and was thus mainly driven by tendon recoil. Temporary tendon energy storage led to a significant reduction in muscle fascicle lengthening velocity and the rate of energy absorption. We conclude that tendons function as power attenuators that probably protect muscles against damage from rapid and forceful lengthening during energy dissipation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Muscle power attenuation by tendon during energy dissipation

2011

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“…slightly so that spindles 'see' slightly less of the origin-toinsertion length (Hoffer et al 1989;Elek, Prochazka, Hulliger & Vincent, 1990;Griffiths, 1991). At the end of the stance phase, the tendon is unloaded and therefore shortens slightly, adding a small component of length to the spindles that is not registered by the length transducer.…”

Section: Figure 1 Illustration Of Averaging Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

Ensemble firing of muscle afferents recorded during normal locomotion in cats

Procházka

Gorassini

1998

The Journal of Physiology

155

129

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The main purpose of this study was to collate population data on the firing characteristics of muscle afferents recorded chronically during normal stepping in cats. Ensemble firing profiles of forty‐seven muscle spindle and tendon organ afferents were compiled from stored data. The relationships between the firing profiles and the displacement and force signals were analysed with the help of mathematical models of the response characteristics of spindle primary and secondary afferents and tendon organs. Whereas the firing of hamstring spindle afferents could be predicted with reasonable accuracy from the length and velocity signals alone, the firing profiles of triceps surae spindle afferents deviated from the predicted profiles, particularly during electromyogram (EMG) activity. This indicated that the components of fusimotor action linked to extrafusal muscle activity were significant in triceps surae, possibly because this muscle is more strongly recruited in the cat step cycle. From the limited data available, it was not possible to identify the ‘best’ or most general mathematical function to predict spindle secondary firing. In the two triceps surae spindle secondary units studied, firing was well predicted by using the simplest possible model, rate proportional to displacement, whereas in the hamstring spindle secondary data, a more complex linear transfer function was needed. The results of modelling the spindle secondary data were consistent with a modest amount of phasic, static fusimotor action linked to EMG activity. The averaged ensemble of tendon organ afferent activity from the triceps surae gave predictions of whole‐muscle force that agreed well with separate triceps force measurements in normal cat locomotion. This supports the idea that ensembles of tendon organ afferents signal whole‐muscle force. Our overall conclusion is that to a first approximation, large muscle afferents in the cat hindlimb signal muscle velocity, muscle length and muscle force, at least in movements of the speed and amplitude seen in locomotion.

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“…In addition, the potential tendon elongation may act as a mechanical buffer limiting the amount of fascicle lengthening and muscle injury from eccentric muscle action. 12,23 The intensity of the activity may also affect the length of the VL fascicle. As the intensity of the drop jump increases, the fascicle lengthens less during the braking or knee flexion phase.…”

Section: Vastus Lateralismentioning

confidence: 99%

Fascicle Length Change of the Human Tibialis Anterior and Vastus Lateralis During Walking

Chleboun¹,

Busic²,

Graham³

et al. 2007

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther

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Amuscle's ability to produce force during a specific movement is determined by the type of muscle action (concentric, eccentric, or isometric). For example, based on the forcevelocity relationship of muscle, the muscle force decreases with increasing speed of movement during a concentric action, and the force increases during an eccentric action. Superimposing the force-velocity relationship on the length-tension relationship, the force will be optimal at a certain muscle (sarcomere) length during isometric and slow concentric actions. 22The use of kinematics and electromyography (EMG) to determine the type of muscle action assumes that the change in length of the muscle-tendon complex will reflect the change in length of the muscle t Study deSign: A single-group descriptive experimental design.t ObjectiveS: To determine the fascicle length change in the tibialis anterior (TA) and the vastus lateralis (VL) muscles during walking.t bAckgrOund: The length of the muscle fibers during isometric actions and during dynamic functional activities is affected by the compliance of the tendon and aponeurosis. The TA and VL muscles have important functions both in stance and swing phases of gait. Therefore, it is important to understand the dynamics of the muscle length change as it relates to the type of muscle actions in walking.t MethOdS And MeASureS: Nine healthy subjects performed treadmill walking while fascicle length, muscle activity (electromyographic signal), and joint angle (knee and ankle) were recorded. Fascicle length was measured using real-time ultrasound imaging. Fascicle length and joint angle during the gait cycle were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis of variance.t reSultS: During the initial portion of stance, when the TA and VL muscles were active, the ankle plantar flexed and the knee joint flexed, suggesting muscle-tendon complex lengthening, but the fascicle length of both muscles remained constant (TA, P = .93; VL, P = .22). The TA muscle was again active during the initial portion of swing phase, while the ankle dorsiflexed, and the fascicle length decreased (P,.05). The VL muscle became active again at the end of swing as the knee extended, and the fascicle length decreased (P,.05).t cOncluSiOnS: The lack of change in fascicle length during the initial portions of stance phase suggests a nearly isometric muscle action of the TA and VL. There is a possible interaction occurring between the fascicle and tendon in the TA and VL such that the tendon lengthens to allow joint motion and potentially to store elastic energy.

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Shortening of muscle fibres during stretch of the active cat medial gastrocnemius muscle: the role of tendon compliance.

Cited by 330 publications

References 28 publications

Muscle power attenuation by tendon during energy dissipation

Muscle power attenuation by tendon during energy dissipation

Ensemble firing of muscle afferents recorded during normal locomotion in cats

Fascicle Length Change of the Human Tibialis Anterior and Vastus Lateralis During Walking

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