Changes in biceps brachii muscle hardness assessed by a push-in meter and strain elastography after eccentric versus concentric contractions

Changes in biceps brachii muscle hardness assessed by a push-in meter (PM) and strain elastography (SE) were compared between eccentric (ECC) and concentric contractions (CON) of the elbow flexors to test the hypothesis that muscle hardness would increase greater after ECC. Ten men performed 5 sets of 10 ECC with their non-dominant arms and 5 sets of 10 CON with their dominant arms using a dumbbell corresponding to 50% of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) force at 90º elbow flexion. Before and 1–4 days after the exercise, MVIC force, elbow joint angles, upper-arm circumference, and muscle soreness as muscle damage makers, and biceps brachii muscle hardness at maximally extended elbow joint by PM and SE were measured. Changes in these measures over time were compared between ECC and CON. All muscle damage markers showed greater changes after ECC than CON (p \u3c 0.001). Muscle hardness assessed by PM and SE increased (p \u3c 0.05) and peaked at 4 days post-ECC with 154.4 ± 90.0% (PM) and 156.2 ± 64.2% (SE) increases from the baseline, but did not change significantly after CON. The changes in muscle hardness post-ECC were correlated between PM and SE (r = 0.752, p \u3c 0.001). A correlation (p \u3c 0.001) between the normalized changes in resting elbow joint angle and changes in muscle hardness assessed by PM (r = − 0.772) or SE (r = − 0.745) was also found. These results supported the hypothesis and suggest that the increases in muscle hardness after ECC were associated with muscle damage (increased muscle stiffness), and PM and SE detected muscle hardness changes similarly

Biceps brachii muscle hardness assessed by a push-in meter in comparison to ultrasound strain elastography

© 2020, The Author(s). This study investigated the relationship between push-in meter (PM) and ultrasound strain elastography (USE) for biceps brachii (BB) muscle hardness. BB hardness of 21 young men was assessed by PM and USE during rest and isometric contractions of six different intensities (15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90% of maximal voluntary contraction: MVC) at 30°, 60° and 90° elbow flexion. Muscle hardness (E) was calculated from the force–displacement relationship in PM, and strain ratio (SR) between an acoustic coupler (elastic modulus: 22.6 kPa) and different regions of interest (ROIs) in BB was calculated and converted to Young’s modulus (YM) in USE. In resting muscle, E was 26.1 ± 6.4 kPa, and SR and YM for the whole BB was 0.88 ± 0.4 and 30.8 ± 12.8 kPa, respectively. A significant (p \u3c 0.01) correlation was evident between E and logarithmical transformed SR (LTSR) for the ROI of whole BB (r = − 0.626), and E and converted YM (r = 0.615). E increased approximately ninefold from resting to 90% MVC, and E and LTSR (r = − 0.732 to − 0.880), and E and converted YM for the SR above 0.1 were correlated (r = 0.599–0.768, p \u3c 0.01). These results suggest that muscle hardness values obtained by PM and USE are comparable

Assessing the validity of two-dimensional video analysis for measuring lower limb joint angles during fencing lunge

IntroductionThe fencing lunge (lunge), characterized by minimal body rotation, offers a movement well-suited for 2D video analysis. However, to the best of our knowledge, the validity of 2D video analysis for fencing has not been verified. This study aimed to validate 2D video analysis by comparing lower limb joints (hip, knee, and ankle joints) angles during lunge using both 2D video analysis and 3D motion analysis methods.MethodsTwenty-two male fencers performed lunge trials that were simultaneously recorded using eight motion capture cameras (Qualisys Miqus M1) and two digital video cameras (Sony AX-450 and AX450a).ResultsThe 2D video analysis results exhibited an extremely large correlation in knee joint angles of the front and rear legs in the sagittal with those from 3D motion analysis (r = 0.93–0.99). However, while a robust correlation was found between the ankle joint angles of the front and rear legs (r = 0.82–0.84), a large bias was also observed (−5.23° to −21.31°). Conversely, for the hip joints of the rear leg, a moderate correlation (r = 0.31) and a large bias (−10.89°) were identified.ConclusionsThe results of this study will contribute to the development of coaching using 2D video analysis in competition settings because such analysis can be a useful alternative to 3D motion analysis when measuring the knee joint angle of the front leg and rear leg in the sagittal plane. However, for the ankle joint angle, further research on the optimal shooting position and height of the digital video camera is needed, whereas for the hip joint angle, 3D motion analysis is recommended at this time

The Validity and Reliability of a Smartphone Application for Break-Point Angle Measurement during Nordic Hamstring Exercise

# Background A recently developed smartphone application (Nordic Angle) allows the automatic calculation of the break-point angle (BPA) during Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) without transferring the collected data to a computer. The BPA is the point at which the hamstrings are unable to withstand force. However, the validity of the BPA values obtained by this method has not been examined. # Hypothesis/Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Nordic Angle by comparing the BPA values of the Nordic Angle with those of two-dimensional motion analysis software that can calculate the angles and angular velocities of various joints. # Study Design Cohort assessing Validity and Reliability # Methods The validity of the Nordic Angle BPA data was verified by Spearman's correlation test for consistency with the movement analysis data, and the magnitude of the correlation was indicated by rs. The agreement between these measurements was examined using the Bland-Altman analysis. The reliability of the Nordic Angle and motion analysis was examined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (1,k) based on data from repeated trials within a day. # Results Although the spearman correlation between the Nordic angle and the angle determined using motion analysis did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.052), a very large correlation was present (rs = 0.75). The difference between the mean values of the Nordic Angle and motion analysis was 0.4 ± 2.1°, and the limits of agreement ranged from -3.9° to 4.6°. In two BPA measurements, the Nordic Angle showed perfect reliability (ICC = 1.00, p \< 0.001), while motion analysis showed nearly perfect reliability (ICC = 0.97, p \< 0.001). # Conclusion The Nordic Angle, which has both validity and reliability, may be appropriate for field measurement because it allows immediate feedback of BPA and the measurement of many athletes. # Level of evidence 3b ©The Author(s

Late-afternoon endurance exercise is more effective than morning endurance exercise at improving 24-h glucose and blood lipid levels

BackgroundGlucose and lipid tolerance reportedly exhibit diurnal variations, being lower in the evening than in the morning. Therefore, the effects of exercise on glucose and blood lipid levels at different times of the day may differ. This study aimed to investigate the effects of short-term endurance exercise intervention in the morning versus late afternoon on 24-h blood glucose variability and blood lipid levels.MethodsTwelve healthy young men participated in a randomized crossover trial. The participants were assigned to morning (09:00–11:00) or late afternoon (16:00–18:00) endurance exercise for a week, consisting of supervised exercise sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. In the morning and evening trials, the participants walked for 60 min on a treadmill at approximately 60% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Following a 2-week wash-out period, the participants performed the exercise training regimen at another time point. Continuous glucose monitoring was used to evaluate blood glucose fluctuations during each 24-h trial period. Blood samples were collected before and after each intervention to examine blood lipid and hormonal responses.ResultsExamination of the area under the curve (AUC) of the glucose level changes for 24 h after the late afternoon versus morning exercise intervention revealed significantly lower values for the former versus the latter (P &lt; 0.01). The AUC of glucose level changes after each meal was also lower after the late afternoon versus morning intervention, and significantly lower values were observed in the late afternoon versus morning trial for breakfast and dinner (P &lt; 0.05, P &lt; 0.01). In addition, a significant decrease in triglycerides (TG) and TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was noted after versus before the late afternoon intervention (P &lt; 0.05).ConclusionsThese results suggest that late afternoon endurance exercise is more effective than morning endurance exercise at improving 24-h glucose and triglyceride levels

Stretching Combined with Repetitive Small Length Changes of the Plantar Flexors Enhances Their Passive Extensibility while Not Compromising Strength

Static stretching increases flexibility but can decrease muscle strength; therefore, a method that would avoid the latter has been longed for. In this study, a novel stretching modality was developed that provides repetitive small length changes to the plantar flexor muscles undergoing passive static stretching (minute oscillation stretching). We investigated the effects of minute oscillation stretching on muscle strength and flexibility and its continuance. Isometric plantar flexion strength and maximal ankle joint dorsiflexion angle (dorsiflexion range of motion) were measured in 10 healthy young men (22 ± 2 years) before (pre) and immediately after (post) 3 types of stretching: static stretching, minute oscillation stretching at 15 Hz, and no intervention (control). The dorsiflexion range of motion was also measured at 15, 30, and 60 min post-stretching. Elongation of the medial gastrocnemius and Achilles tendon was determined by ultrasonography. Plantar flexion strength significantly decreased by 4.3 ± 3.5% in static stretching but not in minute oscillation stretching. The dorsiflexion range of motion significantly increased both in static stretching (7.2 ± 8.1%) and minute oscillation stretching (11.2 ± 14.6%), which was accompanied by a significantly larger muscle elongation but not tendon elongation. Elevated dorsiflexion range of motion was maintained until 30 min after minute oscillation stretching, while levels returned to baseline (pre-intervention) 15 min after static stretching. All variables remained unchanged in the control condition. In conclusion, minute oscillation stretching improves extensibility of the muscle belly without decreasing strength. Furthermore, the augmented flexibility to a similar extent to static stretching is retained for 30 min in minute oscillation stretching and within 15 min in static stretching