Frequency response of rat gastrocnemius medialis in small amplitude vibrations

doi:10.1016/0021-9290(94)90218-6

Journal of Biomechanics

Volume 27, Issue 8, August 1994, Pages 1015-1022

https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9290(94)90218-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

The effect of vibration frequency during small amplitude (∼0.25% of muscle-tendon complex length) vibrations on muscle stiffness and phase angle of the rat gastrocnemius medialis muscle (n = 7) was investigated at four different force levels. Frequencies varying from 5 to 180 Hz were studied. Furthermore, series elastic stiffness was determined as a function of muscle force. The experiments were also simulated, using a Hill-type muscle model representing the fundamental characteristics of the experimental muscles. The frequency response found in the experiments deviated from the simulation results: stiffness and phase were lowest at about 30 Hz, whereas the simulations showed a rapid asymptotic increase of stiffness and decrease of phase angle with increasing frequency. The values levelled off at about 60 Hz. The discrepancy between experimental and simulation results is thought to be due to changes of the contractile properties of muscle, especially at low movement frequencies, where the contractile machinery has a significant influence on muscle stiffness.

At frequencies of 120 Hz and above, the muscle stiffness resembled series elastic stiffness in both experimental muscles and simulations. This suggests that the contractile element contracts approximately isometrically.

Functional implications of the frequency response are discussed.

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Within the skeletal muscles, each cross-bridge between the actin and myosin myofilaments produces some stiffness [16]. Muscles can damp externally applied vibrations and, in reality, extra vibration energy is absorbed by activated muscle [17] rather than by muscles in firmness signifying that the active cross-bridge cycling is a vital part of the damping practice [18]. Not many studies compared the acute effects of static and whole body vibration on muscle performance.
Several studies have reported that stretching before exercise or performance events in fact reduces isometric muscle strength; conversely, recent studies suggested that low amplitude, low frequency mechanical stimulation of the human body is a harmless and efficient way to train musculoskeletal structures. The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of static stretching and whole body vibration (WBV) on peak torque (PT) and peak power of collegiate athletes, and to see if there will be any positive effect of whole body vibration on possible decrease of peak power or torque after static stretching.
Twenty college athletes enrolled in fitness class (age: 24.1 ± 2.38 years; body mass: 69.48 ± 11.40 kg; height: 174.15 ± 0.8 cm) volunteered to participate in the study. Peak torque and peak power data were obtained in a total of three days before and after stretching and after WBV.
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To conclude, these results may not be satisfactory to provide ultimate findings in solving the disagreement between the studies. In future studies, effects of static stretching and vibration on chosen physiological parameters should be investigated in different levels of athletes with different arrangements of frequency, duration and volume of vibration application combined with static stretching.
Plusieurs études ont suggéré que la réalisation d’étirements avant l’exercice diminuait la force isométrique des muscles. À l’inverse, de récentes études mettent en évidence qu’une stimulation de type vibration corps entier à basse fréquence est un moyen efficace et sans risque pour entraîner le système musculaire. Le but de cette étude est de comparer les effets aigus d’étirements statiques et d’une sollicitation de type vibration corps entier sur le couple de force et la puissance musculaire des membres inférieurs chez des étudiants.
Vingt étudiants sportifs inscrits à des cours de fitness (âge : 24,1 ± 2,38, masse corporelle : 69,48 ± 11,40 kg, taille : 174,15 ± 0,8 cm) ont volontairement participé à l’étude.
Les résultats obtenus après la vibration et l’étirement statique ne montrent aucune amélioration significative de la performance musculaire. À l’inverse, le couple de force a diminué de façon significative après l’étirement.
En conclusion, ces résultats ne permettent pas de conclure à l’effet de la vibration et/ou des étirements sur la performance musculaire. Des études ultérieures sont nécessaires pour examiner l’effet de la vibration corps entier et des étirements statiques chez des sportifs de différents niveaux.
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There were few compression or indentation tests (Bosboom et al., 2001; Gras et al., 2012; Palevski et al., 2006). The experimental results published in the literature involved animal muscles (Anderson et al., 2001, 2002; Bensamoun et al., 2006; Best et al., 1994; Bosboom et al., 2001; Ettema and Huijing, 1994; Gottsauner-Wolf et al., 1995; Gras et al., 2012; Hawkins and Bey, 1997; Lin et al., 1999; Myers et al., 1995, 1998; Noonan et al., 1993, 1994; Palevski et al., 2006). Only Yamada (1970) reported tests on human muscles.
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sEMG magnitudes were not normalized. After acceleration artifacts were corrected for (see Ettema and Huijing, 1994), pedal forces (normal and shear) were converted to crank forces (normal and shear) through rotation of the coordination system, as done in Ettema et al. (2009). The right and left pedal coordination systems were at all times oriented in opposite directions.
The purpose of this study was to examine the activation dynamics hypothesis, which states that, in cycling, the pattern between muscle activity and crank position shifts in regard to its angle in the crank cycle with increasing cadence to maintain invariant positioning of the mechanical output. We measured surface EMG of six muscles, and by means of force measurements at the crank and inverse dynamics calculated hip, knee, and ankle joint dynamics during cycling at five cadences (60–100 rpm) at 75% of maximal power in trained cyclists. The joint dynamics (net muscle moment and power) showed a consistent positive phase shift with increasing cadence. The phase shift in muscle activation patterns was highly variable amongst subjects and was, on average, close to zero. Our results are in contradiction with the activation dynamics hypothesis.
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2009, Using Whole Body Vibration in Physical Therapy and Sport.
The effects of cycling cadence on the phases of joint power, crank power, force and force effectiveness
2009, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
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All data were low-pass filtered (10 Hz, 8th order, zero lag Butterworth). After correction for acceleration artefacts (see Ettema and Huijing, 1994), pedal normal and shear forces were transformed to crank shear and normal forces by rotation of the coordination system from pedal to crank using the angle between pedal and crank as calculated from the kinematic data. Note that the coordination systems of right and left pedal were oriented in opposite directions at all times.
We examined the influence of cadence in cycling technique by quantifying phase relationships for a number of important variables at the crank and lower extremity joints. Any difference in the effect of cadence on force, effectiveness, and power phases would indicate an essential change in coordination pattern. Cycle kinetics was recorded for 10 male competitive cyclists at five cadences (60–100 rpm) at submaximal load (260 W). Joint powers were calculated using inverse dynamics methods. All data were expressed as a function of crank position. The phase of the crank mechanical profiles (total force, crank and joint power, and effectiveness) was calculated using four methods: crank angle of maximum (MA) and minimum (MI), fitting a sine wave (SI) and by cross-correlation (XC). These methods, apart from the MA method, showed the same relative phase. The variables, however, showed different phases being expressed as time lag: force effectiveness: 0.131 (±0.034) s; total force: 0.149 (±0.021) s; power: 0.098 (±0.027) s. The phases in joint powers hip 0.071 (±0.008), knee 0.082 (±0.009), and hip 0.077 (±0.012) were only well described by XC, and were somewhat lower than the crank power phase. These differences indicate the potential effect of inertia of the lower limb in phase shifts from joints to crank. Furthermore, the differences between the various crank variables indicate a change of technique with cadence.

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^‡: The experiments were performed at this address.

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Frequency response of rat gastrocnemius medialis in small amplitude vibrations

Abstract

J. Biomechanics

Biophys. J.

J. Biomechanics

J. Biomechanics

J. Biomechanics

Biophys. J.

Biophys. J.

J. Biomechanics

Mechanical properties and function of the paw pads of some mammals

J. Zool. Lond.

The mechanics of hopping by kangaroos (Macropodidae)

J. Zool. Lond.

Series elastic component of mammalian skeletal muscle

Am. J. Physiol.

Series-elasticity of tendinous structures of rat EDL

J. Physiol.

Measurement of the mechanical properties of ligaments

Storage and utilization of elastic energy in skeletal muscle

Exercise Sport Sci. Rev.