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The length-tension relationship of human dorsiflexor and plantarflexor muscles after spinal cord injury.
- Source :
-
Spinal cord [Spinal Cord] 2010 Mar; Vol. 48 (3), pp. 202-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 Sep 01. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Study Design: A cross-sectional design.<br />Objectives: To examine the length-tension relationship of dorsiflexion (DF) and plantarflexion (PF) muscle groups in seven individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI; C2-T7; age 43+/-10.1 years) and compare it with a group of age and sex-matched able-bodied (AB) controls.<br />Setting: McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.<br />Methods: Isometric single twitch properties, 0.5-s tetanic contractions (SCI) and maximal voluntary contractions (AB) were measured at nine joint angles from 20 degrees DF to 20 degrees PF.<br />Results: In the DF muscles, peak-evoked twitch (PT) torque occurred at 20 degrees PF for SCI (3.4+/-1.1 N m) and AB (3.8+/-1.4 N m) with no difference in peak torque between groups, whereas peak summated force occurred at 10 degrees PF in AB and 20 degrees PF in SCI (P<0.01). In the PF muscles, PT torque occurred at 15 degrees DF in AB (18.6+/-2.6 N m) and at 5 degrees DF (6.8+/-3.3 N m; P<0.01) in SCI, and peak-summated force occurred at 15 degrees DF in AB. The SCI group did not show any change in PF peak-summated force with varying joint angles. Rates of contraction and relaxation were not different between the two groups.<br />Conclusions: The results suggest a significant change in the length-tension relationship of the PF muscles after SCI, but no change in the DF muscle group. Rehabilitation programs should focus on maintaining PF muscle length in order to optimize muscle strength and function after SCI.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Ankle anatomy & histology
Biomechanical Phenomena
Electric Stimulation
Foot pathology
Foot physiology
Humans
Isometric Contraction physiology
Leg pathology
Leg physiology
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Contraction physiology
Muscle Relaxation physiology
Muscle, Skeletal pathology
Muscle, Skeletal physiopathology
Spinal Cord Injuries pathology
Spinal Cord Injuries physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1476-5624
- Volume :
- 48
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Spinal cord
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19721452
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2009.106