Enhanced skeletal muscle regrowth and remodelling in massaged and contralateral non‐massaged hindlimb

Abstract

Key pointsr Muscle fibre cross sectional area is enhanced with massage in the form of cyclic compressive loading during regrowth after atrophy.r Massage enhances protein synthesis of the myofibrillar and cytosolic, but not the mitochondrial fraction, in muscle during regrowth. r Massage in the form of cyclic compressive loading is a potential anabolic intervention during muscle regrowth after atrophy.Abstract Massage, in the form of cyclic compressive loading (CCL), is associated with multiple health benefits, but its potential anabolic effect on atrophied muscle has not been investigated. We hypothesized that the mechanical activity associated with CCL induces an anabolic effect in skeletal muscle undergoing regrowth after a period of atrophy. Fischer-Brown Norway rats at 10 months of age were hindlimb unloaded for a period of 2 weeks. The rats were then allowed reambulation with CCL applied at a 4.5 N load at 0.5 Hz frequency for 30 min every other day for four bouts during a regrowth period of 8 days. Muscle fibre cross sectional area was enhanced by 18% with massage during regrowth compared to reloading alone, and this was accompanied by elevated myofibrillar and cytosolic protein as well as DNA synthesis. Focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation indicated that CCL increased mechanical stimulation, while a higher number of Pax7 + cells likely explains the elevated DNA synthesis. Surprisingly, the contralateral non-massaged limb exhibited a comparable 17% higher muscle fibre size compared to reloading alone, and myofibrillar protein synthesis, but not DNA synthesis, was also elevated. We conclude that massage in the form of CCL induces an anabolic response in muscles regrowing after an atrophy-inducing event. We suggest that massage can be used as an intervention to aid in the regrowth of muscle lost during immobilization.

Unraveling molecular determinants of manual therapy: an approach to integrative therapeutics for the treatment of fibromyalgia and CFS/ME

“…Interestingly, they also found that the contralateral non-massaged limbs exhibited a comparable 17% higher muscle fiber size compared to reloading alone suggestive, as formerly observed for other markers, of a systemic effect of CCL. The authors indicate that the mechanism could, at least in part, be mediated by the presence of Pax7+ cells induced by the CCL treatment [67].…”

“…The study was based on the observation that skeletal muscle and satellite cells are sensitive to biophysical micro environmental cues, such as mechanical loading and stretch-associated progenitor activation [66,67]. The treatment consisted on stimulations at 1 Hz for 5 minutes every 12 h by approaching and retracting a magnet to the tibialis anterior muscle subcutaneously implanted ferrogel on a murine model of myotoxin-induced or hind limb ischemia.…”

“…pain induced by touch or massage) may impose limitations to MT therapeutics as certain forces seem to be required to induce molecular changes, and therefore benefits, in animal models [46,67,127]. In fact, by assaying manual forces 0.76 to 4.54 N/cm to obtain hypoalgesic effect McLean et al, concluded that the level of applied force was critical for pain relief setting its value beyond 1.9 N/cm (P=0.014) for lateral glide mobilization.…”

“…In fact, by assaying manual forces 0.76 to 4.54 N/cm to obtain hypoalgesic effect McLean et al, concluded that the level of applied force was critical for pain relief setting its value beyond 1.9 N/cm (P=0.014) for lateral glide mobilization. Importantly, The intensity of therapeutic forces might be perceived by FM patients as unbearable pain restricting its use, however, as the compressing effects have been shown to be systemic, impacting contralateral not treated limbs, in animals [46,67], MT could be concentrated to particular low pain areas of the body and yet obtain overall pain-reducing benefits.…”

Unraveling the Molecular Determinants of Manual Therapy: An Approach to Integrative Therapeutics for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

“…In 2016, the group led by David J. Moone evaluated the regeneration of severely injured muscle by cyclic mechanical compressions driven by the combined use of external magnets and biphasic ferrogels, as an alternative mode to delivering a variety of growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor or IGF, fibroblast growth factor-2 or FGF-2, among others [ 44 , 67 ]. The study was based on the observation that skeletal muscle and satellite cells are sensitive to biophysical micro-environmental cues, such as mechanical loading and stretch-associated progenitor activation [ 45 , 68 ]. The treatment consisted of stimulations at 1 Hz for 5 min every 12 hr by approaching and retracting a magnet to the tibialis anterior muscle subcutaneously implanted ferrogel on a murine model of myotoxin-induced or hind limb ischemia.…”