Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex during a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) permits functionally relevant measurements of muscle group relaxation rate (i.e., when muscles are actively contracting under voluntary control). This study's purpose was twofold: (1) to explore the impact of muscle length on TMS-induced plantar flexor relaxation rate; and (2) to incorporate...

OBJECTIVES The object of this study was to describe previously defined soft tissue structures by using spin and gradient sequences in a 0.5 Tesla magnetic resonance system in order to improve the characterisation of tendon and ligaments at the plantar region of the equine tarsus and metatarsus while considering possible age-related variations. METHODS Cadaveric hindlimbs from twenty-two Warmb...

Impaired ankle plantar flexor (APF) function is a frequent cause of gait limitations, but the role of the APF in the forward propulsion of the body remains controversial. To better understand both the direct and indirect effects of the APF during push-off and through advancement of the leg, mechanical work and inverse dynamic analyses were performed on 8 normal subjects during level walking. Du...

[PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , April 1, 2002; 92 (4): 1383-1392. J Appl Physiol N. A. Maffiuletti, M. Pensini and A. Martin Activation of human plantar flexor muscles increases after electromyostimulation training [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , April 1, 2004; 38 (2): 173-176. Br. J. Sports Med. A Robertson, J M Watt and S D R Galloway Effects of leg massage on recovery from high intensity c...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Vibration training is a relatively new exercise intervention. This study investigated the effects of vibration exercise on strength (force-producing capacity) and power in older adults who are healthy. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Thirty participants (mean age=73.7 years, SD=4.6) were randomly assigned to a vibration exercise training (VIB) group or an exercise without vibr...

The flexor digitorum brevis muscle (FDB) lies immediately deep to the central part of the plantar aponeurosis. It takes origin from the central part of the plantar aponeurosis, medial tubercle of calcaneal tuberosity and from the medial and lateral intermuscular septa. The FDB divides into four tendons for the lateral four toes. Each tendon is divided into two slips at the base of their proxima...

The objective of this study was to assess changes in corticospinal excitability and spinal output following noninvasive transpinal and transcortical stimulation in humans. The size of the motor evoked potentials (MEPs), induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and recorded from the right plantar flexor and extensor muscles, was assessed following transcutaneous electric stimulation of...

Behavioral evidence has suggested that a small number of muscle synergies may be responsible for activating a variety of muscles. Nevertheless, such dimensionality reduction may also be explained using the perspective of alternative hypotheses, such as predictions based on linear combinations of joint torques multiplied by corresponding coefficients. To compare the explanatory capacity of these...

BACKGROUND Excessive stiffness of lower limb muscles is associated with sports injuries. Therefore, the identification of a reliable measurement of the shear elastic modulus of various ankle plantar flexion muscles is required to evaluate lower leg sports injuries. This study investigated the reliable measurement of the shear elastic modulus of the ankle plantar flexion muscles at different ank...