Pes planus, or better known as flat feet, is a medical condition that affects the soles of the human feet at any point within one’s life, including at birth per Gross et. al. This condition is prevalent when the arch of the foot is collapsed, affecting a multitude of extremities throughout the human body such as outer and inner muscles in the sole of the foot, poor stability on the abnormal structure, and an increase in osteoarthritis, a noncurable condition that occurs when the ends of bones wear down at their ends. The particular relationship between flat feet and the immediate response to osteoarthritis is a prevalent mitigation to people’s lives. This association of joint injury with flat feet references the cross area (CSA), with direct relation to the biomechanical forces acted to the sole, and how it impacts the rest of the cartilage on the knee, as best said by Sachini et al. As a result, the biomechanical forces affect the comfort and biological responses on the knee, affecting the lives of millions around the world. As a result, the question this blog post seeks to provide insight on is: What mechanical components are aligned with biological components that causes this condition? Additionally, this blog posts mentions the relationship and the whether there is a direct correlation between flat feet and in osteoarthritis.
Continue reading “Watch Your Step: The Relationship between Flat Feet and Arthritis”Tag: muscle
Vibration and Perception: Your Bike’s Buzz Might Trick Your Brain to Push Harder
Today I rode my bike through the widespread green prairie of South Quad here at Notre Dame. The expanse of thin and evenly tall blades of grass is sliced by strips of smooth concrete, which streak across its surface. Except, of course, that concrete is not really smooth. If you’ve ever (1) reached and dragged your hand across concrete paths or (2) crashed and dragged your body across the concrete, then you intrinsically know that even seemingly smooth paths have texture.
And when you ride over any textured terrain, your tire experiences consecutive minute vertical displacements–aka vibrations–and then your frame experiences these vibrations, and then your handlebars experience these vibrations, and then YOU experience these vibrations in your hands and feet. Advanced riders agree on two things about vibrations: they help you “feel” the texture of the trail, which improves control and confidence, and severe vibrations punish your forearms with lactic acid buildup, which increases fatigue. But how do vibrations affect the average rider on sidewalks and paths? How do they affect your muscular fatigue and performance in your extremities (arms/legs)? Because every time you ride a bike, you’re experiencing vibrations.
Continue reading “Vibration and Perception: Your Bike’s Buzz Might Trick Your Brain to Push Harder”Goldilocks of Weight Training: The Balance between High-Volume and Low-Volume
While many introductions start with sharing your name and where you’re from, for the average gym-goer, the most common icebreaker is, “What’s your split?”. “Split” simply refers to your workout routine, typically by which body parts are being worked out weekly. Some of the most common splits are Push-Pull-Legs (PPL) or an “Arnold Split.” Push means any muscles that “Push” things like the triceps, shoulders, and chest, and pull similarly any muscles that “pull” things like the biceps and back. While the Arnold Split involves working out opposing muscle groups together, it utilizes a chest and back day, a shoulders, triceps, and biceps day, and a leg day. Within these splits are a variety of exercises with several sets and repetitions. The question is: What combination of sets per week are enough to build muscle?
Continue reading “Goldilocks of Weight Training: The Balance between High-Volume and Low-Volume”Steaks and Strains: Biomechanics in Cultivated Meat
Scientists are starting to grow meat the way farmers grow fruits. For thousands of years, people have raised animals for protein, but animal farming uses huge amounts of land and water and raises ethical questions about slaughter. To address these problems, researchers came up with a new idea: cultivated meat, which means growing muscle or fat cells from an animal until they form mature tissue.
Continue reading “Steaks and Strains: Biomechanics in Cultivated Meat”Is Static Stretching the Key to Muscular Gains?
In the present day, it can seem as though nearly every young person wants to be muscular. Phrases such as “winter arc” or “the bulk” are frequently used on social media platforms to describe people changing their physique through weight training. With this resurgent fitness craze, it is evident that there are many gym-goers who are actively looking for ways to maximize muscular growth gains. Researchers have recently discovered that one unconventional method for making those gains is through static stretching.
Read more: Is Static Stretching the Key to Muscular Gains?Static Stretching Explained
Static stretching, which entails maintaining a stationary position where a muscle is at full extension, has often been a topic of discussion in weightlifting communities in years past. There have been many unsettled debates on whether or not stretching techniques can improve strength performance and muscle size. In recent years, however, new studies have been conducted which may point towards the potentially massive benefits of static stretching for muscle growth.
The current understanding is that static stretching induces mechanical stresses, primarily tension, on the muscles of the body. If performed for a long enough duration, this induced stress can lead to muscle hypertrophy. During hypertrophy, the organelles inside of muscle fibers, called myofibrils, which are made up of actin and myosin proteins surrounded by a gel like substance called sarcoplasm, experience some damaging and deformation. In the reconstruction process, new proteins are then generated through muscle protein synthesis, which causes the myofibrils to become thicker and denser, ultimately leading to increased strength. Thus, to achieve any significant muscle growth, hypertrophy must be reached.
First Human Testing
Multiple studies within the last two years have demonstrated that prolonged static stretching in humans can lead to similar levels of muscle hypertrophy in comparison to traditional weight lifting methods. One such study conducted by Wohlann et al. concluded that multiple fifteen minute stretching sessions focused on the pectoral muscles had a nearly equivalent increase in muscle strength when compared to performing traditional weighted exercises concentrated on the same muscles. Another study, by Warneke et al. obtained similar results with the plantar flexors, although in this case the static stretch was held for one hour every day. These findings indicate that regardless of the mechanism or method for creating stress, as long as muscle fibers are kept in constant tension there can be hypertrophy and thereby growth.
To achieve constant stress, the studies mentioned utilized external loads and re-adjusted positioning. Study participants would strap into simple devices which allowed for continual tightening as their muscles loosened over time after being initially stretched. Although uncomfortable to maintain, this constant stress is crucial for breaking down the myosin proteins. Only after the proteins are broken down mechanically does the body generate an inflammatory response which signals to begin the repairing process.
Current Applications
Although the practicality of static stretching as a primary means of achieving muscle growth still remains in question, there is no doubt that the potential benefits of stretching are much greater than sole flexibility. These findings grant deeper insights into the large role tension plays in muscle growth which can be taken and applied to weight training. As more research is conducted, it is highly possible that the answer to the long-asked question of how to achieve maximum hypertrophy may involve some combination of traditional weight lifting techniques and more novel static stretching holds.
Additional Reading:
Feature photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels.
The Extraordinary Grip of Octopus Arms: How Soft-Bodied Creatures Master Precision and Power
Why should we care about the movement of octopus arms? Octopuses have evolved some of the most sophisticated soft-bodied mechanics in nature, capable of moving in ways that rigid-limbed creatures simply can’t. Their unique flexibility and control over movement offer valuable insights for fields like medical robotics, where delicate and adaptive handling is crucial. This research also helps us understand decentralized control, a model where each part of the body can act somewhat independently, a concept that may transform future technology in fields like disaster recovery robotics and innovative medical devices. By studying how octopuses control their arms, we learn from nature’s solutions to complex challenges.
Continue reading “The Extraordinary Grip of Octopus Arms: How Soft-Bodied Creatures Master Precision and Power”Power in Muscles
Power to many is control, electricity, or strength depending on what one is talking about. But to muscles, it involves all three. When at the gym and thinking that someone looks powerful they usually have a lot of muscle. However, to control or activate all that muscle and use their strength it requires electrical power.
Continue reading “Power in Muscles”What are the RICE Method’s Impacts on the Healing Process Following Muscle Injuries?
Have you ever been instructed to use the RICE protocol? Maybe you twisted your ankle on a root, slipped and fell hard on a patch of ice, or pulled your hamstring in an intramural soccer match. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation is the common advice for immediate management of a soft tissue injury. But when you wrap a swollen calf, cover it with ice, and prop it on a pillow, what is actually going on beneath the skin? You may be able to feel the numbing cold of the ice and the compressive pressure of the wrap, but what about the healing processes that are harder to distinguish?
Continue reading “What are the RICE Method’s Impacts on the Healing Process Following Muscle Injuries?”“Ant Power Unleashed: The Secret of Muscle and Scale”
Image credit: Pixabay (adopted from Leuzinger 2022)
Ever wondered how ants generate such extraordinary force despite their size? Beyond curiosity, understanding their biomechanics can inspire real-world advancements in fields like micro-robotics, bio-engineering, materials science, and prosthetics. Discover how these tiny powerhouses hold the key to strength, efficiency, and adaptability.
Continue reading ““Ant Power Unleashed: The Secret of Muscle and Scale””New Hope for Pelvic Floor Health: Models and Scaffolds
About 30% of women worldwide experience Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD), the failure of the pelvic floor muscles. PFD is often caused by childbirth and pregnancy, and it significantly impacts the quality of life for many women, highlighting the need for scientific solutions.
Continue reading “New Hope for Pelvic Floor Health: Models and Scaffolds”