Effects of contraction intensity on muscle fascicle and stretch reflex behavior in the human triceps surae
Abstract
The aims of this study were to examine changes in the distribution of a stretch to the muscle fascicles with changes in contraction intensity in the human triceps surae and to relate fascicle stretch responses to short-latency stretch reflex behavior. Thirteen healthy subjects were seated in an ankle ergometer, and dorsiflexion stretches (8°; 250°/s) were applied to the triceps surae at different moment levels (0–100% of maximal voluntary contraction). Surface EMG was recorded in the medial gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior muscles, and ultrasound was used to measure medial gastrocnemius and soleus fascicle lengths. At low forces, reflex amplitudes increased despite a lack of change or even a decrease in fascicle stretch velocities. At high forces, lower fascicle stretch velocities coincided with smaller stretch reflexes. The results revealed a decline in fascicle stretch velocity of over 50% between passive conditions and maximal force levels in the major muscles of the triceps surae. This is likely to be an important factor related to the decline in stretch reflex amplitudes at high forces. Because short-latency stretch reflexes contribute to force production and stiffness regulation of human muscle fibers, a reduction in afferent feedback from muscle spindles could decrease the efficacy of human movements involving the triceps surae, particularly where high force production is required.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Other researchers have used ultrasound to measure fascicle stretch velocities during stretch reflex response.
“Other researchers have used ultrasound to measure fascicle stretch velocities during stretch reflex response [9] [10].”
From Measurement of rectus femoris muscle velocities during patellar tendon jerk using vector tissue doppler imaging (2009) · cites this paper as [9]
Cites
Architectural and functional features of human triceps surae muscles during contraction
Kawakami, Y., Ichinose, Y., & Fukunaga, T. (1998) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/jappl.1998.85.2.398 · Cited by 554 · see citing works
Muscle-tendon interaction and elastic energy usage in human walking
Ishikawa, M., Komi, P. V., Grey, M. J., Lepola, V., & Brüggemann, G.-P. (2005) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00189.2005 · Cited by 499 · see citing works
Self-citationEffect of strength training on human patella tendon mechanical properties of older individuals
Reeves, N. D., Maganaris, C. N., & Narici, M. V. (2003) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1111/j..2003.t01-1-00971.x · Cited by 484 · see citing works
Effect of strength training on human patella tendon mechanical properties of older individuals
Reeves, N. D., Maganaris, C. N., & Narici, M. V. (2003) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2002.035576 · Cited by 484 · see citing works
Muscle stiffness in human ankle dorsiflexors: intrinsic and reflex components
Sinkjær, T., Toft, E. S., Andreassen, S., & Hornemann, B. C. (1988) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1988.60.3.1110 · Cited by 425 · see citing works
Response to sudden torques about ankle in man: myotatic reflex
Gottlieb, G. L., & Agarwal, G. C. (1979) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1979.42.1.91 · Cited by 386 · see citing works
Griffiths, R. I. (1991) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1991.sp018547 · Cited by 371 · see citing works
Matthews, P. B. C. (1986) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1986.sp016066 · Cited by 349 · see citing works
Vallbo, Å. B. (1971) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009625 · Cited by 312 · see citing works
Stretch Reflexes Can Have an Important Role in Force Enhancement during SSC Exercise
Komi, P. V., & Gollhofer, A. (1997) · Journal of Applied Biomechanics · doi:10.1123/jab.13.4.451 · Cited by 312 · see citing works
Self-citationMajor role for sensory feedback in soleus EMG activity in the stance phase of walking in man
Sinkjær, T., Andersen, J. B., Ladouceur, M., Christensen, L. O. D., & Nielsen, J. B. (2000) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.00817.x · Cited by 310 · see citing works
Input-output functions of mammalian motoneurons
Powers, R. K., & Binder, M. D. (2007) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/bfb0115594 · Cited by 276 · see citing works
Differential strain patterns of the human gastrocnemius aponeurosis and free tendon, in vivo
Magnusson, S. P., Hansen, P., Aagaard, P., Brønd, J. C., Dyhre‐Poulsen, P., Bojsen‐Møller, J., & Kjær, M. (2003) · Acta Physiologica Scandinavica · doi:10.1046/j.1365-201x.2003.01048.x · Cited by 274 · see citing works
Kawakami, Y., Muraoka, T., Shinichiro, I. T. O., Kanehisa, H., & Fukunaga, T. (2002) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2001.013459 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Soleus stretch reflex modulation during gait in humans
Sinkjær, T., Andersen, J. B., & Larsen, B. T. (1996) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1996.76.2.1112 · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Kawakami, Y., Akima, H., Kubo, K., Muraoka, Y., Hasegawa, H., Kouzaki, M., Imai, M., Suzuki, Y., Gunji, A., Kanehisa, H., et al. (2001) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s004210000330 · Cited by 214 · see citing works
Kinesthesia: The role of muscle receptors
Proske, U. (2006) · Muscle & Nerve · doi:10.1002/mus.20627 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Behavior of fascicles and tendinous structures of human gastrocnemius during vertical jumping
Kurokawa, S., Fukunaga, T., & Fukashiro, S. (2001) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/jappl.2001.90.4.1349 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Change in length of relaxed muscle fascicles and tendons with knee and ankle movement in humans
Herbert, R., Moseley, A. M., Butler, J. E., & Gandevia, S. C. (2002) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2001.012756 · Cited by 201 · see citing works
Elastic properties of the cat soleus tendon and their functional importance.
Rack, P. M. H., & Westbury, D. R. (1984) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1984.sp015077 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Entrainment of the locomotor rhythm by group Ib afferents from ankle extensor muscles in spinal cats
Pearson, K. G., Ramirez, J., & Jiang, W. (1992) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/bf00230939 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Tendon stiffness: Methods of measurement and significance for the control of movement. A review
Proske, U., & Morgan, D. L. (1987) · Journal of Biomechanics · doi:10.1016/0021-9290(87)90269-7 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Mechanical and electromyographic responses to stretch of the human ankle extensors
Toft, E. S., Sinkjær, T., Andreassen, S., et al. (1991) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1991.65.6.1402 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Sampling of total muscle force by tendon organs.
Crago, P. E., Houk, J. C., & Rymer, W. Z. (1982) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1982.47.6.1069 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
In vivo Measurement of Fascicle Length and Pennation Angle of the Human Biceps femoris Muscle
Chleboun, G. S., France, A. R., Crill, M. T., Braddock, H. K., & Howell, J. N. (2001) · Cells Tissues Organs · doi:10.1159/000047908 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Compensation for intrinsic muscle stiffness by short-latency reflexes in human triceps surae muscles
Allum, J. H. J., & Mauritz, K.-H. (1984) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1984.52.5.797 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Maganaris, C. N., & Baltzopoulos, V. (1999) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s004210050510 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
Nonlinear behavior of muscle reflexes at the human ankle joint
Stein, R. B., & Kearney, R. E. (1995) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1995.73.1.65 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
In vivo determination of fascicle curvature in contracting human skeletal muscles
Muramatsu, T., Muraoka, T., Kawakami, Y., et al. (2002) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/jappl.2002.92.1.129 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Rack, P. M. H., & Ross, H. F. (1984) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1984.sp015235 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Arampatzis, A., Stafilidis, S., DeMonte, G., Karamanidis, K., Morey-Klapsing, G., & Brüggemann, G. (2004) · Journal of Biomechanics · doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.04.031 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Reduced stretch-reflex sensitivity after exhausting stretch-shortening cycle exercise
Komi, P. V., Horita, T., Kyr�l�inen, H., Takala, T., & Nicol, C. (1996) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/bf00242268 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Self-citationReflex responses at the human ankle: the importance of tendon compliance.
Rack, P. M. H., Ross, H. F., Thilmann, A. F., et al. (1983) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1983.sp014954 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Modulation of short latency stretch reflexes during human hopping
VOIGT, Dyhre‐Poulsen, & Simonsen, E. B. (1998) · Acta Physiologica Scandinavica · doi:10.1046/j.1365-201x.1998.00351.x · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Mademli, L., Arampatzis, A., Morey-Klapsing, G., et al. (2004) · Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology · doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2004.03.006 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Behaviour of vastus lateralis muscle–tendon during high intensity SSC exercises in vivo
Ishikawa, M., Finni, T. J., & Komi, P. V. (2003) · Acta Physiologica Scandinavica · doi:10.1046/j.1365-201x.2003.01149.x · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Self-citationHow Do We Approach the Locomotor Network in the Mammalian Spinal Cord? a
Hultborn, H., Conway, B. A., Gossard, J., Brownstone, R. M., Fedirchuk, B., Schomburg, E. D., Enríquez‐Denton, M., & Perreault, M. (1998) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb09039.x · Cited by 99 · see citing works
In humans Ib facilitation depends on locomotion while suppression of Ib inhibition requires loading
Faist, M., Hoefer, C., Hodapp, M., et al. (2006) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2005.12.069 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Muscle history, fusimotor activity and the human stretch reflex
Gregory, J. E., Wise, A. K., Wood, S. A., Procházka, A., & Proske, U. (1998) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.1998.927ba.x · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Toft, E. S., Sinkj�r, T., & Andreassen, S. (1989) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/bf00248294 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Intensity- and muscle-specific fascicle behavior during human drop jumps
Sousa, F., Ishikawa, M., Vilas‐Boas, J. P., et al. (2006) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00274.2006 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Self-citationArchitecture of Contracting Human Muscles and Its Functional Significance
Kawakami, Y., Ichinose, Y., Kubo, K., Ito, M., Imai, M., & Fukunaga, T. (2000) · Journal of Applied Biomechanics · doi:10.1123/jab.16.1.88 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
The role of the stretch reflex in the gastrocnemius muscle during human locomotion at various speeds
Ishikawa, M., & Komi, P. V. (2007) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00277.2007 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Self-citationEffect of voluntary contraction intensity on the H-reflex and V-wave responses
Pensini, M., & Martin, A. (2004) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2004.06.037 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Wilson, L. R., Gandevia, S. C., & Burke, D. J. (1997) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.1997.221bf.x · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Skeletal muscle transverse strain during isometric contraction at different lengths
van Donkelaar, C. C., Willems, P. J. B., Muijtjens, A. M. M., et al. (1999) · Journal of Biomechanics · doi:10.1016/s0021-9290(99)00073-1 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Evaluation of moment-angle curves in isokinetic knee extension.
Bobbert, M. F., & Harlaar, J. (1993) · PubMed · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Inevitable joint angular rotation affects muscle architecture during isometric contraction
Karamanidis, K., Stafilidis, S., DeMonte, G., Morey-Klapsing, G., Brüggemann, G., & Arampatzis, A. (2005) · Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology · doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2005.02.001 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Variations in soleus H-reflexes as a function of plantarflexion torque in man
Butler, A. J., Yue, G. H., & Darling, W. G. (1993) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(93)91143-g · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Maganaris, C. N. (2004) · Journal of Biomechanics · doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.03.024 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Static and dynamic γ‐motor output to ankle flexor muscles during locomotion in the decerebrate cat
Taylor, A. R., Durbaba, R., ELLAWAY, P. H., et al. (2006) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2005.101634 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Human calf muscle responses during repeated isometric plantarflexions
Maganaris, C. N., Baltzopoulos, V., & Sargeant, A. J. (2005) · Journal of Biomechanics · doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2005.03.011 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Cova, P., Masut, R. A., Grenier, O., et al. (2002) · Journal of Applied Physics · doi:10.1063/1.1483902 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Reflex and non-reflex torque responses to stretch of the human knee extensors
Mrachacz‐Kersting, N., & Sinkjær, T. (2003) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-003-1483-8 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Regional patterns of pectoralis fascicle strain in the pigeonColumba liviaduring level flight
Soman, A., Hedrick, T. L., & Biewener, A. A. (2005) · Journal of Experimental Biology · doi:10.1242/jeb.01432 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Muramatsu, T., Muraoka, T., Kawakami, Y., et al. (2002) · Journal of Biomechanics · doi:10.1016/s0021-9290(01)00196-8 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Elek, J., Procházka, A., Hulliger, M., et al. (1990) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1990.sp018254 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Evaluation of moment-angle curves in isokinetic knee extension
Bobbert, M. F., & Harlaar, J. (1993) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/00005768-199302000-00015 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Cathers, I., O’Dwyer, N., & Neilson, P. D. (2004) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-004-1848-7 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Changes in the length of the human biceps brachii muscle during elbow movements.
Fellows, S. J., & Rack, P. M. H. (1987) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1987.sp016416 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
A task dependent change in the medium latency component of the soleus stretch reflex
Grey, M. J., Larsen, B. T., & Sinkjær, T. (2002) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-002-1109-6 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Short-latency stretch reflex modulation in response to varying soleus muscle activities
Ogiso, K., McBride, J. M., Finni, T. J., et al. (2002) · Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology · doi:10.1016/s1050-6411(01)00030-x · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Krutki, P., Ciechanowicz, I., Celichowski, J., et al. (2007) · Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology · doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2007.02.013 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Knee joint angular velocities and accelerations during the patellar tendon jerk
Lebiedowska, M. K., Sikdar, S., Eranki, A., & Garmirian, L. (2011) · Journal of Neuroscience Methods · doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.04.018 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Sikdar, S., Lebiedowska, M., Eranki, A., Garmirian, L., & Damiano, D. (2009) · 2009 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society · doi:10.1109/iembs.2009.5332500 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
- Authors
- Cronin, N. J., Peltonen, J., Ishikawa, M., Komi, P. V., Avela, J., Sinkjaer, T., & Voigt, M.
- Affiliations
- Aalborg University (DK)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2008-07
- Volume
- 105
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 226-232
- ISSN
- 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
- 8750-7587
- 1522-1601
- OpenAlex
- W2126916922
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VBN Forskningsportal (Aalborg Universitet) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Jyväskylän Yliopisto
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
- Keywords
- triceps surae, short-latency stretch reflex, fascicle length, contraction intensity, muscle spindles, afferent feedback, gastrocnemius, soleus muscle, tibialis anterior, muscle stiffness, force generation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Electromyography, Female, Humans, Isometric Contraction, Leg, Male, Muscle Spindles, Reflex, Stretch, Ultrasonography, Ergometry, Muscle, Skeletal
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
