CONTEXT Previous research indicates that osteopathic manipulative treatment based on counterstrain produces a decrease in the stretch reflex of the calf muscles in subjects with Achilles tendinitis. OBJECTIVES To study the effects of counterstrain on stretch reflex activity and clinical outcomes in subjects with plantar fasciitis. METHODS In a single-blind, randomized controlled trial of cr...

BACKGROUND To test the hypothesis that preserved muscle mass is protective against obesity-associated insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities, we analyzed the relationship of lean body mass and computed tomography-assessed sectional areas of specific skeletal muscles with insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities in a healthy cohort. METHODS A total of 195 subjects without diabete...

A 42-year-old man had a 2-year history of progressive asymptomatic left calf enlargement. MRI showed diffuse swelling of left calf muscles (figure, A and B); biopsy displayed neurogenic changes (figure, C and D). Electrodiagnostic examination results were compatible with left chronic S1 radiculopathy and lumbosacral MRI revealed an ipsilateral L5-S1 disc protrusion encroaching on the foraminal ...

It is well accepted that skeletal muscle is a major glucose-utilizing tissue and that insulin is able to stimulate in vivo glucose utilization in ruminants as in monogastrics. In order to determine precisely how glucose uptake is controlled in various ruminant muscles, particularly by insulin, this study was designed to investigate in vitro glucose transport and insulin-regulatable glucose-tran...

Joint deformity secondary to extensive haemangiomatous involvement of the soft tissues has been well described and is easy to diagnose. If the haemangioma is small, localised and within the belly of a muscle the diagnosis is more difficult. In equinus deformity of obscure aetiology localised calf tenderness may be the only diagnostic sign. Three children with equinus deformity caused by a small...

Angiogenic growth factors could prove to be useful in managing peripheral arterial insufficiency. The present study was designed to evaluate the dose response of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), the efficacy of critical routes and dosing regimens, and the specificity of action in rats with peripheral arterial insufficiency. Bilateral ligation of femoral arteries greatly reduces blood flow...

We performed nerve fiber analysis of the nerve to the plantaris muscle in ten cases. Macroscopically, the nerve to the plantaris muscle has a tendency to branch off from the tibial nerve itself independent of the nerves to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (the triceps surae muscle). After removing the epineurium of the tibial nerve, it was revealed that, in all ten cases, the nerve to the p...

The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate whether, with vision, the magnitude of the effect of calf muscles fatigue on postural control during bipedal quiet standing depends on the eye-visual target distance. Twelve young university students were asked to stand upright as immobile as possible in three visual conditions (No vision, Vision 1m and Vision 4m) executed in two conditio...

We assessed the presence, frequency and pattern of MRI abnormalities in non-dystrophic myotonia patients. We reviewed T1-weighted and STIR (short-tau-inversion-recovery) 3T MRI sequences of lower limb muscles at thigh and calf level in 21 patients with genetically confirmed non-dystrophic myotonia: 11 with CLCN1 mutations and 10 with SCN4A mutations, and 19 healthy volunteers. The MRI examinati...