Muscle and tendon stiffness assessment using the alpha method and ultrafast ultrasound

Hauraix, Hugo; Fouré, Alexandre; Dorel, Sylvain; Cornu, Christophe; Nordez, Antoine

doi:10.1007/s00421-015-3112-1

Cited by 14 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(80 reference statements)

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“…During the present experiment, changes in muscle fibre length could occur as a result not only of changes in the force generating capacity (Hodges et al. ), but also of changes in muscle (Hauraix et al., ) and tendon (Kay & Blazevich, ; Mademli & Arampatzis, ) stiffness. Thus, it is plausible that, after the initial 55–75 s of intermittent MVC, the combination of the decline in force and the reductions in muscle and tendon stiffness led to a decrease in Ampli SECOND .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Sarcolemmal membrane excitability during repeated intermittent maximal voluntary contractions

Rodriguez‐Falces

Place

2018

Experimental Physiology

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New Findings What is the central question of this study?Is impaired membrane excitability reflected by an increase or by a decrease in M‐wave amplitude? What is the main finding and its importance?The magnitude of the M‐wave first and second phases changed in completely different ways during intermittent maximal voluntary contractions, leading to the counterintuitive conclusion that it is an increase (and not a decrease) of the M‐wave first phase that reflects impaired membrane excitability. Abstract The study was undertaken to investigate separately the changes in the first and second phases of the muscle compound action potential (M‐wave) during 4 min of intermittent maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the quadriceps. M‐waves were evoked by supramaximal single electrical stimulation to the femoral nerve delivered in the resting periods between 48 successive MVCs of 3 s. The amplitude, duration and area of the M‐wave first and second phases were measured separately, together with muscle conduction velocity and MVC force. During the intermittent MVCs, the amplitude of the M‐wave first phase increased uninterruptedly for the first 3 min (12–16%, P < 0.05) and stabilized thereafter, whereas the second phase initially increased for 55–75 s (11–22%, P < 0.05), but decreased subsequently. The enlargement of the first phase occurred in parallel with an increase in its duration, and concomitantly with a decline in conduction velocity (maximal cross‐correlations, 0.89–0.97; time lag, 0 s). Also, a significant temporal association was found between the amplitude of the first phase and MVC force (time lag, 0 s; maximal cross‐correlations, 0.85–0.97). Conversely, there was no temporal association between the second phase amplitude and conduction velocity or MVC force (time lag, 73–117 s; maximal cross‐correlations, 0.65–0.77). It is concluded that the enlargement of the M‐wave first phase is the electrical manifestation of impaired muscle membrane excitability. The results highlight the importance of independently analysing the first and second phases, as only the first phase can be used reliably to detect changes in membrane excitability, while the second might be affected by muscle architecture.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Sarcolemmal membrane excitability during repeated intermittent maximal voluntary contractions

Rodriguez‐Falces

Place

2018

Experimental Physiology

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“…The calculation of MS US was performed according to previous studies. 15,16 B-mode images were analyzed using image processing software (ImageJ, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA). Fascicle length was determined as the length of the straight line between the intersection points of the fascicle and superficial and deep aponeuroses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The calculation of MS US was performed according to previous studies . B‐mode images were analyzed using image processing software (ImageJ, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the calculation of MS Alpha , the torque and ankle joint angle data for the first 60 ms after the onset of stretch in the short‐range stretch task were used, as described in detail in previous studies . In the alpha method, muscle and tendon are assumed to be placed in series, and thus, the joint compliance (ie, the inverse of joint stiffness) is considered as the compliance of two springs in series, one representing compliance of muscle (torque‐dependent; proportional to the force) and the other tendon (torque‐independent; constant).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, although the alpha method uses joint angle data to estimate muscle behavior, changes in the joint angle do not correspond to those in muscle fiber length . To try to overcome such limitations of the alpha method, B‐mode ultrasonography has been used to non‐invasively assess active muscle stiffness in more recent years . Kubo measured fascicle length of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) during a short‐range stretch of dorsiflexion and demonstrated that the MG muscle stiffness determined with B‐mode ultrasonography (MS US ) was not related to the muscle stiffness determined with the alpha method (MS Alpha ) at >30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) levels .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Muscle elasticity under active conditions in humans: A methodological comparison

Miyamoto

Hirata

2019

Transl Sports Med

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Muscle stiffness under active conditions has been evaluated as a measure of muscle elasticity (expressed in N/mm) by the alpha method or B‐mode ultrasonography in humans in vivo. While these are indirect methods, ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE), which enables direct quantification of tissue shear modulus (a measure of elasticity, expressed in kPa), has recently been used to assess muscle elasticity. We compared muscle shear modulus under active conditions using SWE with active muscle stiffness assessed by the alpha method or B‐mode ultrasonography. Seventeen healthy men participated in this study. Muscle shear modulus of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) was measured during submaximal isometric plantar flexion contractions (10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90% maximal voluntary contraction). Active muscle stiffness of MG during short‐range stretch after submaximal isometric contractions was calculated using the alpha method or based on changes in estimated muscle force and fascicle length. Muscle shear modulus was not correlated with either muscle stiffness determined by the alpha method or B‐mode ultrasonography at any torque levels. These findings indicate the necessity to reconsider the previous findings on muscle elasticity under active conditions in humans, such as the effect of training background and the association with muscular injury risk.

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Potentiation of the first and second phases of the M wave after maximal voluntary contractions in the biceps brachii muscle

Rodriguez‐Falces

Vieira

Place

et al. 2019

Med Biol Eng Comput

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Muscle and tendon stiffness assessment using the alpha method and ultrafast ultrasound

Cited by 14 publications

References 54 publications

Sarcolemmal membrane excitability during repeated intermittent maximal voluntary contractions

Sarcolemmal membrane excitability during repeated intermittent maximal voluntary contractions

Muscle elasticity under active conditions in humans: A methodological comparison

Potentiation of the first and second phases of the M wave after maximal voluntary contractions in the biceps brachii muscle

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