Non-Muscular Structures Can Limit the Maximal Joint Range of Motion during Stretching

Nordez, Antoine; Gross, Raphaël; Andrade, Ricardo J.; Sant, Guillaume Le; Freitas, Sandro R.; Ellis, Richard; McNair, Peter; Hug, François

doi:10.1007/s40279-017-0703-5

Cited by 50 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, it remains unclear whether the current findings hold true for females. On the other hand, the elasticity of non-muscular tissues such as nerve and fascia has recently been proposed to influence joint flexibility [33,34]. Further researches are required to examine these points.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moderate Associations of Muscle Elasticity of the Hamstring with Hip Joint Flexibility

Miyamoto

Hirata

2019

Int J Sports Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The main purpose of the present study was to identify whether and to what extent the individual differences in range of motion and stiffness of the hip joint can account for that in muscle elasticity of the hamstring. Hip extension torque and shear moduli (a measure of elasticity) of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus were assessed in 21 young males during unilateral passive hip flexion in the knee-extended position from the anatomical position to the individual’s maximal hip flexion angle. Muscle shear modulus was quantified by using ultrasound shear wave elastography. The maximal hip flexion angle correlated negatively with the shear modulus of each muscle (−0.750 ≤ r ≤ −0.612). The joint stiffness correlated positively with the shear modulus of each muscle (0.711 ≤ r ≤ 0.747). These findings suggest that hip flexion ROM and joint stiffness can reflect significantly but only moderately the muscle elasticity of the hamstring.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moderate Associations of Muscle Elasticity of the Hamstring with Hip Joint Flexibility

Miyamoto

Hirata

2019

Int J Sports Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Namely, the involvement of other muscles such as the mono-articular gluteus maximus should be negligible. Another possible reason is the variation in the pelvic position [22,23] and stiffness of non-muscular tissue such as nerve, fascia, and tendon [27]. Further studies are warranted to clarify these issues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributions of Hamstring Stiffness to Straight-Leg-Raise and Sit-and-Reach Test Scores

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The passive straight-leg-raise (PSLR) and the sit-and-reach (SR) tests have been widely used to assess hamstring extensibility. However, it remains unclear to what extent hamstring stiffness (a measure of material properties) contributes to PSLR and SR test scores. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the relationship between hamstring stiffness and PSLR and SR scores using ultrasound shear wave elastography. Ninety-eight healthy subjects completed the study. Each subject completed PSLR testing, and classic and modified SR testing of the right leg. Muscle shear modulus of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus was quantified as an index of muscle stiffness. The relationships between shear modulus of each muscle and PSLR or SR scores were calculated using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients. Shear modulus of the semitendinosus and semimembranosus showed negative correlations with the two PSLR and two SR scores (absolute r value≤0.484). Shear modulus of the biceps femoris was significantly correlated with the PSLR score determined by the examiner and the modified SR score (absolute r value≤0.308). The present findings suggest that PSLR and SR test scores are strongly influenced by factors other than hamstring stiffness and therefore might not accurately evaluate hamstring stiffness.

show abstract

“…This change occurred in the absence of any changes in the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) local stiffness and ankle torque 8 . Because there is no muscle-tendon unit crossing both the hip and ankle joints, these results have suggested that non-muscular structures may play a role in the limitation of maximal ankle ROM in dorsiflexion 9 . A possible candidate to explain this effect is the sciatic nerve that extends from the spine through branches to the foot, and like most other connective tissues, exhibits visco-elastic behavior 10 , 11 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The potential role of sciatic nerve stiffness in the limitation of maximal ankle range of motion

Andrade

Freitas

Hug

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It is a long held belief that maximal joint range of motion (ROM) is restricted by muscle tension. However, it exists indirect evidence suggesting that this assumption may not hold true for some joint configurations where non-muscular structures, such as the peripheral nerves, are stretched. Direct evidences are lacking. This study aimed to determine whether a static stretching aiming to load the sciatic nerve without stretch within plantar flexors is effective to: (i) alter nerve stiffness; and (ii) increase the ankle’s maximal ROM. Passive maximal ankle ROM in dorsiflexion was assessed with the hip flexed at 90° (HIP-flexed) or neutral (HIP-neutral, 0°). Sciatic nerve stiffness was estimated using shear wave elastography. Sciatic nerve stretching induced both a 13.3 ± 7.9% (P < 0.001) decrease in the nerve stiffness and a 6.4 ± 2.6° increase in the maximal dorsiflexion ROM assessed in HIP-flexed. In addition, the decrease in sciatic nerve stiffness was significantly correlated with the change in maximal ROM in dorsiflexion (r = −0.571, P = 0.026). These effects occurred in the absence of any change in gastrocnemius medialis and biceps femoris stiffness, and ankle passive torque. These results demonstrate that maximal dorsiflexion ROM can be acutely increased by stretching the sciatic nerve, without altering the muscle stiffness.

show abstract

Non-Muscular Structures Can Limit the Maximal Joint Range of Motion during Stretching

Cited by 50 publications

References 36 publications

Moderate Associations of Muscle Elasticity of the Hamstring with Hip Joint Flexibility

Moderate Associations of Muscle Elasticity of the Hamstring with Hip Joint Flexibility

Contributions of Hamstring Stiffness to Straight-Leg-Raise and Sit-and-Reach Test Scores

The potential role of sciatic nerve stiffness in the limitation of maximal ankle range of motion

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About