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Use of intermittent stretch in the prevention of serial sarcomere loss in immobilised muscle

PainSci » bibliography » Williams 1990
updated
Tags: stretch, etiology, biology, biomechanics, sedentariness, exercise, self-treatment, treatment, muscle, pro

Three pages on PainSci cite Williams 1990: 1. The Trouble with Chairs2. The Complete Guide to Trigger Points & Myofascial Pain3. Micro Muscles and the Dance of the Sarcomeres

PainSci notes on Williams 1990:

If muscles are not used, and ROM is lessened, can stretching assist in returning ROM to normal? “It was found that periods of stretch as short as 1/2 h daily were sufficient not only to prevent loss of sarcomeres but actually to cause an increase in the number of sarcomeres in series.”

original abstract Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.

After immobilisation of muscle in a shortened position there is a reduction of muscle fibre length due to a loss of serial sarcomeres. Experiments have been carried out to determine whether short, daily periods of stretch prevent sarcomere loss and the resultant loss of range of joint motion. It was found that periods of stretch as short as 1/2 h daily were sufficient not only to prevent loss of sarcomeres but actually to cause an increase in the number of sarcomeres in series. Range of joint motion was normal. Such short periods of stretch were also found to prevent much of the muscle atrophy normally associated with immobilisation in the shortened position.

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