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. 2022 Feb 11:9:810250.
doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.810250. eCollection 2021.

Effects of Isometric Plantar-Flexion on the Lower Limb Muscle and Lumbar Tissue Stiffness

Baizhen Chen  1   2 , Shaoyang Cui  3 , Mingzhu Xu  4 , Zhijie Zhang  5 , Chunlong Liu  1
Affiliations

Effects of Isometric Plantar-Flexion on the Lower Limb Muscle and Lumbar Tissue Stiffness

Baizhen Chen et al. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. .

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of isometric plantar-flexion against different resistances on the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF), erector spinae (ES), and gastrocnemius stiffness by shear wave elastography (SWE). The purpose was to explore the interaction between the lower limb muscle and lumbar tissue in the myofascial tensegrity network. Methods: Twenty healthy young female were recruited in this study. The stiffness of the TLF, ES, medial gastrocnemius (MG), and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) was measured by SWE under four isometric plantar-flexion resistance conditions. The resistance conditions involved 0% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), 20% MVIC, 40% MVIC, and 60% MVIC. Results: There was a strong correlation between the stiffness change of MG and that of TLF (r = 0.768-0.943, p < 0.001) and ES (r = 0.743-0.930, p < 0.001), while it was moderate to strong correlation between MG and that of LG (r = 0.588-0.800, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the stiffness between the nondominant and dominant sides of TLF and ES under the resting position (p > 0.05). The increase in stiffness of the TLF, ES, MG, and LG, with MVIC percentage (p < 0.05), and the stiffness of TLF and ES on the nondominant side is much higher than that on the dominant side. Conclusions: Our data shows that isometric plantar-flexion has a significant effect on the stiffness of the lumbar soft tissue and gastrocnemius. The gastrocnemius has a strong correlation with the stiffness changes of TLF and ES, which provides preliminary evidence for exploring the myofascial tensegrity network between the dorsal side of the lower limb muscle and lumbar tissue.

Keywords: gastrocnemius; isometric plantar-flexion; myofascial continuity; shear wave elastography; tensegrity network; thoracolumbar fascia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Setting out plan of the ultrasound transducer: (A) thoracolumbar fascia and erector spinae and (B) medial gastrocnemius and lateral gastrocnemius.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The posture and equipment used for measurement: (A) ergometer, (B) wooden block, and (C) monitor.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Stiffness variation of each tissue under different resistance conditions. ***, significant intergroup difference (p < 0.001); NS, non-significant intergroup difference (p > 0.05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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