The effects of active and passive stretching on muscle length. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2012 Feb;23(1):51-7, x
Date
01/14/2012Pubmed ID
22239873DOI
10.1016/j.pmr.2011.11.006Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84855723648 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 32 CitationsAbstract
Active stretch is necessary for regulating muscle fiber length (ie, the number of series sarcomeres). Elevated cytoplasmic calcium is the proposed component of contractile activity required to activate signaling pathways for sarcomere number regulation. Passive stretch reduces muscle tissue stiffness, most likely by signaling connective tissue remodeling via fibroblasts. Passive stretch may induce sarcomere addition if the muscle fibers are lengthened sufficiently to raise cytoplasmic calcium through stretch-activated calcium channels. The magnitude of stretch in vivo is limited by the physiologic range of movement and stretch pain tolerance. The greatest effect of stretching muscle fibers is expected when the lengthening exceeds the optimum fiber length (Lo).
Author List
Riley DA, Van Dyke JMMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsHumans
Muscle Contraction
Muscle Stretching Exercises
Muscle, Skeletal
Sarcomeres