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. 2024 Jan 4:14:1337170.
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1337170. eCollection 2023.

Effect of different isometric trunk extension intensities on the muscle stiffness of the lumbar and lower limbs

Yuting Zhang  1 , Mengtong Chen  1 , Hongxiu Liu  1 , Yanan He  1 , Yuanchao Li  1 , Peifeng Shen  1 , Yiming Chen  1 , Jiapeng Huang  1 , Chunlong Liu  1
Affiliations

Effect of different isometric trunk extension intensities on the muscle stiffness of the lumbar and lower limbs

Yuting Zhang et al. Front Physiol. .

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of isometric prone trunk extension (IPTE) contraction intensity on the stiffness of erector spinae (ES), semitendinosus (ST), biceps femoris (BF), and gastrocnemius muscles to understand the overall muscle mechanical behavior during IPTE and to explore the mechanisms of oordinated contraction of the body kinetic chain. Methods: Twenty healthy females were recruited, and participants underwent IPTE at three contraction intensities, i.e., 0% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), 30% MVIC, and 60% MVIC, and muscle stiffness was measured using MyotonPRO. Results: Muscle stiffness was moderately to strongly positively correlated with contraction intensity (r = 0.408-0.655, p < 0.001). The percentage increase in stiffness at low intensity was much greater in ES than in lower limb muscles and greater in ST and BF than in gastrocnemius, whereas at moderate intensity, the percentage increase in stiffness decreased in all muscles, and the percentage increase in stiffness in ES was lower than that in ST. There was a moderate to strong positive correlation between ES stiffness variation and ST (r = 0.758-0.902, p < 0.001), BF (r = 0.454-0.515, p < 0.05), MG (r = 0.643-0.652, p < 0.01), LG (r = 0.659-0.897, p < 0.01). Conclusion: IPTE significantly affected the stiffness of lumbar and lower limb muscles, and low-intensity IPTE activated the ES more efficiently. There were significant coordinated muscle contractions between ES, ST, and LG. This provides preliminary evidence for exploring the overall modulation pattern of the lumbar and lower limb muscles' kinetic chains. In future studies, we will combine other stiffness assessment methods (such as Magnetic Resonance Elastography, Shear Wave Elastography, or electromyography) to corroborate our findings.

Keywords: MyotonPRO; coordinated contraction; erector spinae; isometric prone trunk extension; stiffness.

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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
MyotonPRO probe monitoring point: (A) erector spine; (B) semitendinosus, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The posture and equipment used for measurement: (A) ergometer, (B) Adjustable fixtures.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Stiffness variation of each muscle under different contraction intensities. ***, significant intergroup difference (p < 0.001); **, significant intergroup difference (p < 0.01); *, significant intergroup difference (p < 0.05); NS, non-significant intergroup difference (p > 0.05).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
The change in stiffness percentage changes value of each muscle under different contraction intensities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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