Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients

© 2016 Panizzolo et al. Background. Alterations in skeletal muscle function and architecture have been linked to the compromised exercise capacity characterizing chronic heart failure (CHF). However, how passive skeletal muscle force is affected in CHF is not clear. Understanding passive force chara...

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Main Authors: Panizzolo, F., Maiorana, Andrew, Naylor, L., Dembo, L., Lloyd, D., Green, D., Rubenson, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: PeerJ, Ltd. 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25531
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author Panizzolo, F.
Maiorana, Andrew
Naylor, L.
Dembo, L.
Lloyd, D.
Green, D.
Rubenson, J.
author_facet Panizzolo, F.
Maiorana, Andrew
Naylor, L.
Dembo, L.
Lloyd, D.
Green, D.
Rubenson, J.
author_sort Panizzolo, F.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2016 Panizzolo et al. Background. Alterations in skeletal muscle function and architecture have been linked to the compromised exercise capacity characterizing chronic heart failure (CHF). However, how passive skeletal muscle force is affected in CHF is not clear. Understanding passive force characteristics in CHF can help further elucidate the extent to which altered contractile properties and/or architecture might affect muscle and locomotor function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate passive force in a single muscle for which non-invasive measures of muscle size and estimates of fiber force are possible, the soleus (SOL), both in CHF patients and age- and physical activity-matched control participants. Methods. Passive SOL muscle force and size were obtained by means of a novel approach combining experimental data (dynamometry, electromyography, ultrasound imaging) with a musculoskeletal model. Results. We found reduced passive SOL forces (~30%) (at the same relative levels of muscle stretch) in CHF vs. healthy individuals. This difference was eliminated when force was normalized by physiological cross sectional area, indicating that reduced force output may be most strongly associated with muscle size. Nevertheless, passive force was significantly higher in CHF at a given absolute muscle length (non length-normalized) and likely explained by the shorter muscle slack lengths and optimal muscle lengths measured in CHF compared to the control participants. This later factor may lead to altered performance of the SOL in functional tasks such gait. Discussion. These findings suggest introducing exercise rehabilitation targeting muscle hypertrophy and, specifically for the calf muscles, exercise that promotes muscle lengthening.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-255312017-10-02T02:28:15Z Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients Panizzolo, F. Maiorana, Andrew Naylor, L. Dembo, L. Lloyd, D. Green, D. Rubenson, J. © 2016 Panizzolo et al. Background. Alterations in skeletal muscle function and architecture have been linked to the compromised exercise capacity characterizing chronic heart failure (CHF). However, how passive skeletal muscle force is affected in CHF is not clear. Understanding passive force characteristics in CHF can help further elucidate the extent to which altered contractile properties and/or architecture might affect muscle and locomotor function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate passive force in a single muscle for which non-invasive measures of muscle size and estimates of fiber force are possible, the soleus (SOL), both in CHF patients and age- and physical activity-matched control participants. Methods. Passive SOL muscle force and size were obtained by means of a novel approach combining experimental data (dynamometry, electromyography, ultrasound imaging) with a musculoskeletal model. Results. We found reduced passive SOL forces (~30%) (at the same relative levels of muscle stretch) in CHF vs. healthy individuals. This difference was eliminated when force was normalized by physiological cross sectional area, indicating that reduced force output may be most strongly associated with muscle size. Nevertheless, passive force was significantly higher in CHF at a given absolute muscle length (non length-normalized) and likely explained by the shorter muscle slack lengths and optimal muscle lengths measured in CHF compared to the control participants. This later factor may lead to altered performance of the SOL in functional tasks such gait. Discussion. These findings suggest introducing exercise rehabilitation targeting muscle hypertrophy and, specifically for the calf muscles, exercise that promotes muscle lengthening. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25531 10.7717/peerj.2447 PeerJ, Ltd. fulltext
spellingShingle Panizzolo, F.
Maiorana, Andrew
Naylor, L.
Dembo, L.
Lloyd, D.
Green, D.
Rubenson, J.
Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients
title Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients
title_full Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients
title_fullStr Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients
title_full_unstemmed Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients
title_short Muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients
title_sort muscle size explains low passive skeletal muscle force in heart failure patients
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25531