Vitamin D is a lipophilic prohormone integral to musculoskeletal, autoimmune, oncologic, cardiovascular, and mental health. Of particular importance to the orthopedic surgeon is the role of vitamin D in the regulation of bone mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Although vitamin D-related skeletal pathologies are rare in industrialized nations, emerging research in the field has shown that most American adults have inadequate levels of vitamin D. Even among athletes, there is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, which may place competitors at risk of stress fractures, illness, and delayed muscle recovery. Adequately identifying vitamin D-deficient individuals in need of supplementation is important to help optimize performance and prevent future injury. The goal of this review is to describe the epidemiology of vitamin D deficiency and its effects on athletic performance and musculoskeletal health. Future double-blinded studies of vitamin D supplementation in athletes are needed. We recommend treating athletes who have insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels.
Introduction
Peripheral nerves accommodate mechanical loads during joint movement. Hypothesized protective features include increased nerve compliance near joints and axonal undulation. How axons perceive nerve deformation is poorly understood. We tested whether nerves increase local axonal undulation in regions of high epineurial strain to protect nerve fibers from strain‐induced damage.
Methods
Regional epineurial strain was measured near the elbow in median and ulnar nerves of mice expressing axonal fluorescence before and after decompression. Regional axonal tortuosity was quantified under confocal microscopy.
Results
Nerves showed higher epineurial strain just distal to the medial epicondyle; these differences were eliminated after decompression. Axonal tortuosity also varied regionally; however, unlike in the epineurium, it was greater in proximal regions.
Discussion
In this study we have proposed a neuromechanical model whereby axons can unravel along their entire length due to looser mechanical coupling to the peri/epineurium. Our findings have major implications for understanding nerve biomechanics and dysfunction. Muscle Nerve 59:619–619, 2019
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.