Myofascial force transmission between the calf and the dorsal thigh is dependent on knee angle: an ultrasound study

  • 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.

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Author:Lisa MohrORCiD, Lutz VogtGND, Christian ThielGND, Michael BehringerORCiDGND, Jan WilkeORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-826300
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30407-3
ISSN:2045-2322
Parent Title (English):Scientific Reports
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
Place of publication:London
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2023/03/06
Date of first Publication:2023/03/06
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2024/03/16
Tag:Physiology
Musculoskeletal system
Volume:13
Issue:art. 3738
Article Number:3738
Note:
Gefördert durch den Open-Access-Publikationsfonds der Goethe-Universität
Note:
Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.
Note:
Funding: Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung ; 2018_A94
Institutes:Medizin
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Open-Access-Publikationsfonds:Medizin
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International