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Passive stiffness of monoarticular lower leg muscles is influenced by knee joint angle

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Abstract

Purpose

While several studies demonstrated the occurrence of intermuscular mechanical interactions, the physiological significance of these interactions remains a matter of debate. The purpose of this study was to quantify the localized changes in the shear modulus of the gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), monoarticular dorsi- and plantar-flexor muscles induced by a change in knee angle.

Method

Participants underwent slow passive ankle rotations at the following two knee positions: knee flexed at 90° and knee fully extended. Ultrasound shear wave elastography was used to assess the muscle shear modulus of the GL, soleus [both proximally (SOL-proximal) and distally (SOL distal)], peroneus longus (PERL), and tibialis anterior (TA). This was performed during two experimental sessions (experiment I: n = 11; experiment II: n = 10). The shear modulus of each muscle was compared between the two knee positions.

Results

The shear modulus was significantly higher when the knee was fully extended than when the knee was flexed (P < 0.001) for the GL (averaged increase on the whole range of motion: + 5.8 ± 1.3 kPa), SOL distal (+ 4.5 ± 1.5 kPa), PERL (+ 1.1 ± 0.7 kPa), and TA (+ 1.6 ± 1.0 kPa). In contrast, a lower SOL-proximal shear modulus (P < 0.001, − 5.9 ± 1.0 kPa) was observed.

Conclusion

As the muscle shear modulus is linearly related to passive muscle force, these results provide evidence of a non-negligible intermuscular mechanical interaction between the human lower leg muscles during passive ankle rotations. The role of these interactions in the production of coordinated movements requires further investigation.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

EMG:

Electromyography

GL:

Gastrocnemius lateralis

GM:

Gastrocnemius medialis

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

PERL:

Peroneus longus

ROI:

Region of interest

ROM:

Range of motion

SOL:

Soleus

SSI:

Supersonic shear imaging

TA:

Tibialis anterior

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the European Regional development Fund (ERDF, no. 37400), the Region Pays de la Loire (QUETE project), and by the Interdisciplinary program from the University of Nantes.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Filiz Ates and Ricardo J. Andrade contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory “Movement, Interactions, Performance” (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, Université de Nantes, UFR STAPS, 25 bis Bd Guy Mollet, BP 72206, 44000, Nantes, France

    Filiz Ateş, Ricardo J. Andrade, François Hug, Lilian Lacourpaille, Raphael Gross & Antoine Nordez

  2. Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Filiz Ateş & Can A. Yucesoy

  3. Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Estrada da Costa, Cruz Quebrada-Dafundo, 1499-002, Lisbon, Portugal

    Ricardo J. Andrade & Sandro R. Freitas

  4. Benfica Lab, Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon, Portugal

    Sandro R. Freitas

  5. NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    François Hug

  6. Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France

    François Hug

  7. Gait Analysis Laboratory, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, University Hospital of Nantes, Nantes, France

    Raphael Gross

  8. Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    Antoine Nordez

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  1. Filiz Ateş
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  2. Ricardo J. Andrade
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Contributions

FA, RJA, SRF, CAY, RG, FH, and AN conceived and designed research. FA, RJA, SRF, and LL conducted experiments. FA, RJA and AN analyzed data. FA and RJA wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antoine Nordez.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by Olivier Seynnes.

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Ateş, F., Andrade, R.J., Freitas, S.R. et al. Passive stiffness of monoarticular lower leg muscles is influenced by knee joint angle. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 585–593 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3798-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3798-y

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