Fatigue-induced changes in hamstrings' active muscle stiffness: effect of contraction type and implications for strain injuries.

PURPOSE: Hamstring strain injuries may occur due to differential fatigue and compromised mechanical properties among the hamstring muscles. We examined (1) the effect of fatigue on hamstrings active muscle stiffness, and (2) whether contraction type affects active muscle stiffness changes during a submaximal fatiguing task. METHODS: Nine healthy males completed 99 submaximal knee flexions in isometric (ISO), concentric (CON), and eccentric (ECC) conditions. We measured the knee flexor maximal voluntary torque (MVT) (pre/post), shear wave velocity (SWV) during contraction and transverse relaxation times (T2) (pre/post) in biceps femoris long head (BFlh), semitendinosus (ST), and semimembranosus (SM) muscles. RESULTS: MVT decreased substantially after all conditions (- 18.4 to - 33.6%). The average relative torque sustained during the task was lower in CON than ISO and ECC, but absolute torque was similar. SWV interindividual responses were highly variable across muscles and contraction types. On average, BFlh SWV tended to increase in ISO (0.4 m/s, 4.5%, p = 0.064) but decreased in ECC condition (- 0.8 m/s, - 7.7%, p < 0.01). ST SWV decreased in CON (- 1.1 m/s, - 9.0%, p < 0.01), while it remained unchanged in ISO and ECC. SM SWV decreased in CON (- 0.8 m/s, - 8.1%, p < 0.01), but it was unaffected in ISO and variable in ECC. CONCLUSION: Fatigue has a differential effect on the mechanical properties of the constituent hamstring muscles, as measured with shear wave elastography, depending upon contraction type. We found preliminary evidence that BFlh is more fatigued than ST or SM during eccentric contractions, which may explain its susceptibility to strain injuries.

Influence of Body Mass on Running-Induced Changes in Mechanical Properties of Plantar Fascia.

ABSTRACT: Shiotani, H, Mizokuchi, T, Yamashita, R, Naito, M, and Kawakami, Y. Influence of body mass on running-induced changes in mechanical properties of plantar fascia. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): e588-e592, 2023-Body mass is a major risk factor for plantar fasciopathy; however, evidence explaining the process between risk factors and injury development is limited. Long-distance running induces transient and site-specific reduction in plantar fascia (PF) stiffness, reflecting mechanical fatigue and microscopic damage within the tissue. As greater mechanical loads can induce greater reduction in tissue stiffness, we hypothesized that the degree of running-induced change in PF stiffness is associated with body mass. Ten long-distance male runners (age: 21 - 23 years, body mass: 55.5 ± 4.2 kg; mean ± SD ) and 10 untrained men (age: 20 - 24 years, body mass: 58.4 ± 5.6 kg) ran for 10 km. Before and immediately after running, the shear wave velocity (SWV) of PF at the proximal site, which is an index of tissue stiffness, was measured using ultrasound shear wave elastography. Although the PF SWV significantly decreased after running in runners (-4.0%, p = 0.010) and untrained men (-21.9%, p < 0.001), runners exhibited smaller changes ( p < 0.001). The relative changes in SWV significantly correlated with body mass in both runners ( r = -0.691, p = 0.027) and untrained individuals ( r = -0.723, p = 0.018). These results indicate that a larger body mass is associated with a greater reduction in PF stiffness. Our findings provide in vivo evidence of the biomechanical basis for body mass as a risk factor for plantar fasciopathy. Furthermore, group differences suggest possible factors that reduce the fatigue responses, such as adaptation enhancing the resilience of PF and running mechanics.

Three-dimensional architecture of human medial gastrocnemius fascicles in vivo: Regional variation and its dependence on muscle size.

Fascicle architecture (length and pennation angle) can vary regionally within a muscle. The architectural variability in human muscles has been evaluated in vivo, but the interindividual variation and its determinants remain unclear. Considering that within-muscle non-uniform changes in pennation angle are associated with change in muscle size by chronic mechanical loading, we hypothesized that the regional variation in fascicle architecture is dependent on interindividual variation in muscle size. To test this hypothesis, we reconstructed fascicles three-dimensionally along and across the whole medial gastrocnemius in the right lower leg of 15 healthy adults (10 males and 5 females, 23.7 ± 3.3 years, 165.8 ± 8.3 cm, 61.9 ± 11.4 kg, mean ± standard deviation) in neutral ankle joint position with the knee fully extended, using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging and tractography. The 3D-reconstructed fascicles arose from the deep aponeurosis with variable lengths and angles both in sagittal and coronal planes. The fascicle length was significantly longer in the middle (middle-medial: 52.4 ± 6.1 mm, middle-lateral: 52.0 ± 5.1 mm) compared to distal regions (distal-medial: 41.0 ± 5.0 mm, distal-lateral: 38.9 ± 3.6 mm, p < 0.001). The 2D pennation angle (angle relative to muscle surface) was significantly greater in distal than middle regions, and medial than lateral regions (middle-medial: 26.6 ± 3.1°, middle-lateral: 24.1 ± 2.3°, distal-medial: 31.2 ± 3.6°, distal-lateral: 29.2 ± 3.0°, p ≤ 0.017), while only a proximo-distal difference was significant (p < 0.001) for 3D pennation angle (angle relative to line of action of muscle). These results clearly indicate fascicle's architectural variation in 3D. The magnitude of regional variation evaluated as standard deviation across regions differed considerably among individuals (4.0-10.7 mm for fascicle length, 0.9-5.0° for 2D pennation angle, and 3.0-8.8° for 3D pennation angle), which was positively correlated with the muscle volume normalized to body mass (r = 0.659-0.828, p ≤ 0.008). These findings indicate muscle-size dependence of the variability of fascicle architecture.

Investigation of the association between human fascia lata thickness and its neighboring tissues' morphology and function using B-mode ultrasonography.

The fascia lata is a membrane tissue which envelopes all thigh muscles and connects with the subcutaneous adipose tissues through loose connective tissues. It is presumable that the morphology of the fascia lata is strongly affected by the unique properties of underlying thigh muscles and subcutaneous adipose tissues. We aimed to investigate the relationships between characteristics of the fascia lata and adjoining adipose tissues and underlying muscles. Twenty healthy people were recruited (25 ± 3 years, 167.1 ± 8.5 cm, 62.5 ± 13.2 kg). The thickness of the skeletal muscles (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus), and their overlying fascia lata and subcutaneous adipose tissues were measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Isometric knee extension and flexion torque during maximal voluntary contraction were also tested. The fascia lata thickness demonstrated site-dependent differences (vastus lateralis: 0.91 ± 0.20 mm > rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus: 0.56-0.69 mm, p < 0.01). Furthermore, there were large individual variations in the fascia lata thickness even in the same region of the thigh. The fascia lata showed positive simple correlations with height (rectus femoris: r = 0.39 p = 0.01, semitendinosus: r = 0.37 p < 0.05), body mass (rectus femoris: r = 0.59, p < 0.01, vastus lateralis: r = 0.47, p < 0.01, semitendinosus: r = 0.55, p < 0.01), corresponding muscle thickness (rectus femoris: r = 0.39, p < 0.05, semitendinosus: r = 0.74, p < 0.01) and knee extension (rectus femoris: r = 0.52, p < 0.01, vastus lateralis: r = 0.40, p < 0.01) and flexion (semitendinosus: r = 0.41, p < 0.01) torques. After adjusting for the influence of height and/or body mass, the fascia lata thickness showed a partial correlation only with the skeletal muscle thickness at the semitendinosus (r = 0.61, p < 0.01). The present study revealed that the fascia lata has site-specific differences of the thickness, which positively correlates with the underlying muscle thickness and corresponding joint torque. Furthermore, the fascia lata over the semitendinosus is associated with the underlying muscle characteristics independent of the physical constitution. It is assumed that the fascia lata has the plasticity and changes its thickness, which likely corresponds to the morphology of the neighboring tissues and underlying muscle function.

Minute oscillation stretching: A novel modality for reducing musculo-tendinous stiffness and maintaining muscle strength.

A novel stretching modality was developed to provide repetitive small length changes to the plantar flexors undergoing passive stretch defined as "minute oscillation stretching" (MOS). This study investigated the effects of MOS on neuromuscular activity during force production, the rate of torque development (RTD), and the elastic properties of the plantar flexors and Achilles tendon. Ten healthy males participated in this study. The neuromuscular activity of the triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscles during maximal voluntary plantar flexion torque [MVT], RTD of plantar flexion, Achilles tendon stiffness, and muscle stiffness were measured before and after two types of interventions for a total of 5 minutes: static stretching (SS) and MOS at 15 Hz and without intervention (control). Achilles tendon stiffness was calculated from the tendon elongation measuring by ultrasonography. Muscle stiffness was determined for the medial gastrocnemius [MG] using shear wave elastography. The MVT, mean electromyographic amplitudes [mEMG] of MG and lateral gastrocnemius [LG], and RTD were significantly decreased following SS (MVT: -7.2 ± 7.9%; mEMG of MG: -8.7 ± 10.2%; mEMG of LG: -12.4 ± 10.5%; RTD: -6.6 ± 6.8%), but not after MOS. Achilles tendon stiffness significantly decreased after SS (-13.4 ± 12.3%) and MOS (-9.7 ± 11.5%), with no significant differences between them. Muscle stiffness significantly decreased in SS and MOS, with relative changes being significantly greater for MOS (-7.9 ± 8.3%) than SS (-2.3 ± 2.9%) interventions. All variables remained unchanged in the controls. In conclusion, MOS changed muscle-tendon compliance without loss of muscle function.

Characteristics of inhomogeneous lower extremity growth and development in early childhood: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood is a transferring stage between the two accelerated growth periods (infant and adolescent). Body dimensions are related to physical growth and development. The purpose of this study was to investigate physical growth in terms of anthropometry, muscle growth of the lower extremity, and functional development over early childhood. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 29 preschool children (PS: 3-5 years), 21 school children (SC: 6-8 years), and 22 adults (AD: 20-35 years). Lower extremity characteristics (segmental dimensions, muscle and adipose tissue thicknesses of the thigh and lower leg), and voluntary joint torque (knee and ankle) were measured. Correlations between parameters and group comparisons were performed. RESULTS: All the parameters except for body mass index (BMI) and subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness were correlated with age for PS and SC combined (r = 0.479-0.920, p < 0.01). Relative thigh and shank lengths to body height were greatest in AD and smallest in PS (p < 0.05) but the relative foot dimensions were significantly larger in PS and SC than in AD (p < 0.05). Relative subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness was largest in PS and lowest in AD. Muscle thickness and the muscle volume measure (estimated from muscle thickness and limb length) were significantly larger in older age groups (p < 0.05). All groups showed comparable muscle thickness when normalized to limb length. Joint torque normalized to estimated muscle volume was greatest for AD, followed by SC and PS (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Relative lower extremity lengths increase with age, except for the foot dimensions. Muscle size increases with age in proportion to the limb length, while relative adiposity decreases. Torque-producing capacity is highly variable in children and rapidly develops toward adulthood. This cross-sectional study suggests that children are not a small scale version of adults, neither morphologically nor functionally.

Inhomogeneous and Anisotropic Mechanical Properties of the Triceps Surae Aponeuroses in Older Adults: Relationships With Muscle Strength and Walking Performance.

This study investigated (a) site- and direction-dependent variations of passive triceps surae aponeurosis stiffness and (b) the relationships between aponeurosis stiffness and muscle strength and walking performance in older individuals. Seventy-nine healthy older adults participated in this study. Shear wave velocities of the triceps surae aponeuroses at different sites and in two orthogonal directions were obtained in a prone position at rest using supersonic shear imaging. The maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque of the plantar flexors and normal (preferred) and fast (fastest possible) walking speeds (5-m distance) were also measured. The shear wave velocities of the adjoining aponeuroses were weakly associated with plantar flexion torque (r = .23-.34), normal (r = .26), and fast walking speed (r = .25). The results show clear spatial variations and anisotropy of the triceps surae aponeuroses stiffness in vivo, and the aponeurosis stiffness was associated with physical ability in older adults.

Acute effects of long-distance running on mechanical and morphological properties of the human plantar fascia.

Long-distance running (LDR) can induce transient lowering of the foot arch, which may be associated with mechanical fatigue of the plantar fascia (PF). However, this has not been experimentally tested in vivo. The purpose of this study was to test our hypothesis that LDR induces transient and site-specific changes in PF stiffness and morphology and that those changes are related to the lowering of the foot arch. Ten male recreational long-distance runners and 10 untrained men were requested to run overground for 10 km. Before and after running, shear wave velocity (SWV: an index of soft tissue stiffness) and thickness of PF at three different sites from its proximal to distal end were measured using supersonic shear imaging and B-mode ultrasonography. Foot dimensions including the navicular height were measured using a three-dimensional foot scanner. SWV at the proximal site of PF and navicular height was significantly decreased in both groups after running, with a higher degree in untrained men (-21.9% and -14.1%, respectively) than in runners (-4.0% and -6.3%, respectively). The relative change (%Δ) in SWV was positively correlated with %Δnavicular height in both groups (r = .69 and r = .65, respectively). Multiple regression analysis revealed that %ΔSWV at the proximal site solely explained 72.7% of the total variance in %Δnavicular height. It is concluded that LDR induces transient and site-specific decreases in PF stiffness. These results suggest that the majority of running-induced lowering of the foot arch is attributable to the reduction of PF stiffness at the proximal site.

Stretching Combined with Repetitive Small Length Changes of the Plantar Flexors Enhances Their Passive Extensibility while Not Compromising Strength.

Static stretching increases flexibility but can decrease muscle strength; therefore, a method that would avoid the latter has been longed for. In this study, a novel stretching modality was developed that provides repetitive small length changes to the plantar flexor muscles undergoing passive static stretching (minute oscillation stretching). We investigated the effects of minute oscillation stretching on muscle strength and flexibility and its continuance. Isometric plantar flexion strength and maximal ankle joint dorsiflexion angle (dorsiflexion range of motion) were measured in 10 healthy young men (22 ± 2 years) before (pre) and immediately after (post) 3 types of stretching: static stretching, minute oscillation stretching at 15 Hz, and no intervention (control). The dorsiflexion range of motion was also measured at 15, 30, and 60 min post-stretching. Elongation of the medial gastrocnemius and Achilles tendon was determined by ultrasonography. Plantar flexion strength significantly decreased by 4.3 ± 3.5% in static stretching but not in minute oscillation stretching. The dorsiflexion range of motion significantly increased both in static stretching (7.2 ± 8.1%) and minute oscillation stretching (11.2 ± 14.6%), which was accompanied by a significantly larger muscle elongation but not tendon elongation. Elevated dorsiflexion range of motion was maintained until 30 min after minute oscillation stretching, while levels returned to baseline (pre-intervention) 15 min after static stretching. All variables remained unchanged in the control condition. In conclusion, minute oscillation stretching improves extensibility of the muscle belly without decreasing strength. Furthermore, the augmented flexibility to a similar extent to static stretching is retained for 30 min in minute oscillation stretching and within 15 min in static stretching.

A cross-sectional study on the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon with growth.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to elucidate growth pattern of mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon and to examine if imbalance between growth of bone and muscle-tendon unit occurs during adolescence. METHODS: Fourteen elementary school boys, 30 junior high school boys, 20 high school boys and 15 male adults participated in this study. Based on estimated age at peak height velocity (PHV), junior high school boys were separated into two groups (before or after PHV). An ultrasonography technique was used to determine the length, cross-sectional area, stiffness and Young's modulus of Achilles tendon. In addition, the maximum strain in "toe region" (strainTP) was determined to describe the balance between growth of bone and muscle-tendon unit. RESULTS: No group difference was observed in length, cross-sectional area and strainTP among the groups. However, stiffness and Young's modulus in after PHV groups were significantly higher than those of elementary school boys and before PHV groups (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that mechanical properties of Achilles tendon change dramatically at and/or around PHV to increased stiffness. The widely believed assumption that muscle-tendon unit is passively stretched due to rapid bone growth in adolescence is not supported.

Unique activation of the quadriceps femoris during single- and multi-joint exercises.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine whether muscle activation of the quadriceps femoris differs between single- and multi-joint exercises, and to explore the factors resulting in muscle and exercise specificity in activation. METHODS: Eleven adults developed isometric hip extension torque gradually while maintaining submaximal isometric knee extension torque (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, 15 men performed knee extension and leg press separately at intensities of 20, 40, 60 and 80 % of their one repetition maximum (1RM) load, and 14 men conducted leg press at intensities of 40 and 80 % of 1RM until exhaustion (Experiment 3). Muscle activation during exercises was measured using surface electromyography from the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and medialis. RESULTS: The addition of isometric hip extension torque significantly decreased rectus femoris activation (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, the rectus femoris activation was significantly higher during knee extension than during leg press, whereas no differences were observed in the vasti. The rectus femoris activation was not significantly different between leg press at 80 % and knee extension at 20 % of 1RM. The results of Experiment 3 showed significant increases in vasti activation at both intensities, whereas rectus femoris activation did not change at 80 % of 1RM. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that even at high intensity, the rectus femoris activation during multi-joint exercise is low and does not increase with fatigue, unlike the vasti, and that the inter-muscle and inter-exercise differences in activation depend on whether hip extension torque is exerted in the exercise.

Validity of muscle thickness-based prediction equation for quadriceps femoris volume in middle-aged and older men and women.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the validity of muscle thickness (MT)-based prediction equation for the muscle volume of the quadriceps femoris (QFMV) by evaluating the applicability of a prediction equation previously derived from young men and by developing a new prediction equation in middle-aged and older individuals. METHODS: The MT at the midpoint of the thigh anterior and QFMV were determined using ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in 30 men and 30 women aged 51 to 77 years. First, we examined the validity of the MT-based prediction equation previously developed for young men to estimate the QFMV of middle-aged and older individuals. Second, we allocated the subjects to validation or cross-validation group and developed a prediction equation for estimating the QFMV using a stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The published equation generated a small but a significant difference between the measured and estimated QFMV, with a systematic error depending on the size of QFMV. A multiple regression analysis for the validation group produced the following equation: QFMV (cm3) = (sex × 267.7) + (MT × 249.3) + (thigh length × 41.1) - 1663.7 (sex: man = 1, woman = 0). R 2 and SEE of the regression equation were 0.888 and 124.4 cm3 (12.0 %), respectively. The developed equation was validated and cross-validated. CONCLUSION: For middle-aged and older individuals, the prediction equation previously derived from young men is not applicable, and the newly developed prediction equation with sex, MT, and thigh length as independent variables is applicable for estimating QFMV.

Increase in vastus lateralis aponeurosis width induced by resistance training: implications for a hypertrophic model of pennate muscle.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to ascertain whether training-induced muscle hypertrophy is accompanied by an increase in the aponeurosis width, and to infer its impact on the training-induced increase in the pennation angle. METHODS: Eleven young men completed a resistance training program of unilateral knee extensions for 12 weeks. Before and after training, anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA) of the vastus lateralis and its distal aponeurosis width in the transverse plane were measured with magnetic resonance imaging. The pennation angle and fascicle length were also determined with ultrasonography at the midbelly of the muscle. The effect of change in aponeurosis width on the magnitude of training-induced increase in pennation angle was estimated by using a parallelepipedon model. RESULTS: After the training, there were significant increases in ACSA (10.7 ± 7.6 %), pennation angle (10.8 ± 7.3 %) and aponeurosis width (1.9 ± 3.1 %), whereas no significant change was found in the fascicle length. The model simulation shows that the increase in aponeurosis width by 1.9 % reduces the magnitude of increase in pennation angle by only 0.4°. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that (1) the aponeurosis width of the vastus lateralis increases after 12 weeks of resistance training and (2) the increase in the aponeurosis width accompanying muscle hypertrophy by the amount of ~10 % does not substantially affect the increase in pennation angle.

Determination of contraction-induced changes in elbow flexor cross-sectional area for evaluating muscle size-strength relationship during contraction.

The aims of this study were to determine contraction-induced changes in the elbow flexor cross-sectional area (CSA) and to examine whether the maximal CSA during a high-intensity contraction is more closely related to the strength than that at rest in the elbow flexors. Fourteen young male subjects participated in this study. The elbow flexor CSAs were measured at sites from 1 cm proximal to 6 cm distal to the reference site (60% of the upper arm length from the acromial process of the scapula to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus) (every 1 cm; 8 sampling sites) using magnetic resonance imaging, at rest and during 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of isometric elbow flexion. The elbow flexor CSA changed greatly during low-intensity contractions, and this contraction-induced change was small over 60%MVC. Compared with at rest, greater CSA around the muscle belly and smaller CSA in the distal portion of the elbow flexors were found in contracted conditions. The MVC strength was significantly correlated with the maximal CSAs at rest and each contraction level, but stepwise multiple regression analysis selected only that during 80%MVC as a significant contributor for estimating the MVC strength. These results suggest that, in the elbow flexors, the contraction-induced change in the CSA reaches its peak under high contractile level and that the maximal CSA during 80%MVC is more closely related to the MVC strength than that at rest.

Influence of muscle hypertrophy on the moment arm of the triceps brachii muscle.

Although the moment arm of the triceps brachii muscle has been shown to be associated with the muscle's anatomical cross-sectional area, whether training-induced muscle hypertrophy alters the moment arm of the muscle remains unexplored. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine this. Eleven men underwent a 12-week resistance training program for the triceps brachii muscle. The maximum muscle anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSAmax), the moment arm of the triceps brachii muscle, and the anterior-posterior dimension of the olecranon were measured using a magnetic resonance imaging system before and after intervention. The ACSAmax (33.6 ± 11.9%, P < .001) and moment arm (5.5 ± 4.0%, P = .001) significantly increased after training, whereas the anterior-posterior dimension of the olecranon did not change (P > .05). The change in moment arm was smaller than that expected from the relationship between the ACSAmax and the moment arm before the intervention. The present results indicate that training-induced triceps brachii muscle hypertrophy could increase the muscle moment arm, but its impact can be small or negligible.

Evaluation of serum leaking enzymes and investigation into new biomarkers for exercise-induced muscle damage.

This investigation determined whether existing muscle damage markers and organ damage markers respond to an acute eccentric exercise protocol and are associated with affected muscle symptoms. Nine healthy-young men completed one-leg calf-raise exercise with their right leg on a force plate. They performed 10 sets of 40 repetitions of exercise at 0.5 Hz with a load corresponding to half of their body weight, with 3 min rest between sets. The tenderness of medial gastrocnemius, lateral gastrocnemius and soleus, and the ankle active range of motion (ROM) were assessed before, immediately after, 24 h and 48 h, 72 h, 96 h and 168 h after exercise. Blood and urine were collected pre-exercise and 2 h, 4 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h post-exercise. Serum was analyzed for creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aldolase (ALD) activities. We also determined heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), intestinal-type fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-23, nerve growth factor (NGF), soluble-Endothelial (sE)-selectin, s-Leukocyte (L)-selectin, s-Platelets (P)-selectin, and 8-isoprostane in plasma and urine. The tenderness of proximal and middle gastrocnemius increased significantly 72 h (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) after exercise. Ankle active ROM in dorsal flexion decreased significantly 48 h (p < 0.05) and 72 h (p < 0.01) after exercise. CK and ALD activities significantly increased at 72 h (p < 0.05) and remained elevated at 96 h (p < 0.01) postexercise compared to pre-exercise values. Also, ALD which showed relatively lower interindividual variability was significantly correlated with tenderness of middle gastrocnemius at 72 h. LDH activity significantly increased 96 h postexercise (p < 0.01), whereas the increase in AST and ALT activities 96 h post-exercise was not significantly different from pre-exercise values. There were no significant changes in FABPs, NGAL, IL-17A, IL-23, NGF, selectins and 8-isoprostanes in plasma and urine. In conclusion, calf-raise exercise induced severe local muscle damage symptoms which were accompanied by increases in both serum CK and ALD activities, but we could not detect any changes in examined markers of organ damage, inflammation and oxidative stress. Further research is needed to determine other more sensitive biomarkers and the underlying mechanisms of exercise-induced muscle damage.

Influence of the intensity of squat exercises on the subsequent jump performance.

Jump performance can be enhanced after performing squat exercises, and this is thought to be because of the phenomenon of postactivation potentiation (PAP). However, the influence of the intensity of squat exercises on jump performance enhancement and its association to PAP have not been elucidated. Thus, we examined the influence of the intensity of squat exercises on the subsequent jump performance and the magnitude of PAP. Eight weightlifters (age, 19.8 ± 1.3 years; height, 1.67 ± 0.07 m; body mass, 77.1 ± 14.8 kg) were recruited as subjects. The intensity of squat exercises was set in 2 conditions: heavy condition (HC) (45% 1 repetition maximum [1RM] × 5 repetitions [reps], 60% 1RM × 5 reps, 75% 1RM × 3 reps, and 90% 1RM × 3 reps) and moderate condition (MC) (45% 1RM × 5 reps, 60% 1RM × 5 reps, and 75% 1RM × 3 reps). Before and after the squat exercises, the subjects performed countermovement jumps 3 times. In addition, a twitch contraction was concurrently elicited before and after the squat exercises. In both conditions, twitch torque and jump height recorded after the squat exercises increased significantly compared with those recorded beforehand. The extents of increase in both twitch torque and jump height were significantly larger in HC than in MC. We conclude therefore that a high-intensity squat exercise is better than a moderate-intensity squat exercise as a warm-up modality for enhancing subsequent jump performance.

Association between contraction-induced increases in elbow flexor muscle thickness and distal biceps brachii tendon moment arm depends on the muscle thickness measurement site.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the contraction-induced increase in distal biceps brachii tendon moment arm is related to that in elbow flexor muscle thickness, with a specific emphasis on the influence of the site-related differences in muscle thickness. The moment arm and muscle thickness were determined from sagittal and cross-sectional images, respectively, of the right arm obtained by magnetic resonance imaging of nine young men. The muscle thickness was measured at levels from the reference site (60% of the upper arm length from the acromial process of the scapula to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus) to 60 mm distal to it (every 10 mm; 7 measurement sites). At 80° of elbow flexion, the moment arm and muscle thickness were determined at rest and during 60% of maximal voluntary contraction (60%MVC) of isometric elbow flexion. Only the relative change from rest to 60%MVC in muscle thickness at the level 60 mm distal to the reference site correlated significantly with that of the moment arm. This result indicates that the contraction-induced increase in distal biceps brachii tendon moment arm is related to that in elbow flexor muscle thickness near the corresponding muscle-tendon junction.

Physiological and Metabolic Responses to Low-Volume Sprint Interval Exercises: Influence of Sprint Duration and Repetitions.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine physiological and metabolic responses to two different sprint interval exercises (SIE) matched for total sprint duration and sprint-rest ratio. METHODS: After having measured peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2peak ), 14 healthy males (27.1 ± 4.8 yr, 169.6 ± 6.0 cm, 64.5 ± 8.4 kg, V̇O 2peak : 47.2 ± 7.7 mL·kg -1 ·min -1 ) performed four 10-s sprints with 80-s recovery (SIE10) and two 20-s sprints with 160-s recovery (SIE20) on different occasions in a counterbalanced crossover manner. Pulmonary V̇O 2 and changes in tissue oxygenation index (∆TOI) at vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) were measured during the SIE. Furthermore, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was taken immediately before and after the SIE to determine the activation levels of VL, RF, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, adductor magnus, biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus at 50% of right thigh length. RESULTS: In SIE10, increases in V̇O 2 and ∆TOI at VL and RF plateaued after the second sprint, whereas session-averaged ∆TOI was greater in SIE20 than SIE10 in both muscles (VL: 20.9 ± 7.4 vs 14.2% ± 5.9%, RF: 22.8 ± 9.3 vs 12.9% ± 6.6%, P = 0.00). Although both SIE significantly increased T2 values in all eight muscles, those magnitudes were similar between the conditions (SIE10 vs SIE20: 5%-16% vs 8%-16%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed blunted responses of whole-body (V̇O 2 ) and peripheral (∆TOI) oxidative responses with successive sprints (sprint 1 < sprints 2-4) in SIE10, suggesting that increasing sprint repetitions does not necessarily induce greater oxidative metabolism or stimulus. Moreover, greater peripheral oxygen extraction (∆TOI) was achieved with SIE20, whereas %changes of T2 indicates that the thigh muscles were similarly activated between the SIE conditions.

Age- and sex-dependence of muscle quality: Influence of intramuscular non-contractile tissues.

PURPOSE: Muscle quality is explained by the ratio between muscle size and strength. Conventionally, muscle size is evaluated without considering the composition of contractile and non-contractile tissues in muscle, hence the influence of non-contractile tissues on muscle quality is not fully understood, especially within aging muscle. This study investigated the differences in intramuscular non-contractile tissues between different age and sex groups, and investigated their influence on muscle quality. METHODS: Eighty-two older and 64 young females and males participated. Muscle cross-sectional area (quadriceps and hamstrings), separating contractile and non-contractile areas, was calculated from the magnetic resonance image of the right mid-thigh. Maximal voluntary isometric knee extension and flexion torque was measured. Torque/muscle area and torque/contractile area were calculated for each age and sex group. RESULTS: Non-contractile/muscle area was higher in older than in young individuals in both muscle groups (p < 0.05), and it was greater in the hamstrings than in the quadriceps. For the hamstrings, torque/muscle area was lower in older than in young individuals in both sexes (p < 0.05). However, torque/contractile area did not show the differences between age groups, only between sexes (males>females) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that 1) the presence of non-contractile tissues varies by age and muscle groups, 2) the extensive presence of non-contractile tissues can contribute to the underestimation of its muscle quality, and 3) the sex differences in muscle quality are influenced by factors other than muscle composition.