%0 Journal Article %1 Smeulders2004 %A Smeulders, Mark J C %A Kreulen, Michiel %A Hage, J. Joris %A Huijing, Peter A %A van der Horst, Chantal M A M %D 2004 %J J Orthop Res %K Adolescent; Adult; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Contracture; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle Contraction; Spasticity; Sarcomeres; Wrist Joint %N 6 %P 1331--1335 %R 10.1016/j.orthres.2004.04.006 %T Overstretching of sarcomeres may not cause cerebral palsy muscle contracture. %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orthres.2004.04.006 %V 22 %X To answer the question whether the muscle contracture in patients with cerebral palsy is caused by overstretching of in-series sarcomeres we studied the active and passive force-length relationship of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU) in relation to its operating length range in 14 such patients with a flexion deformity of the wrist. Force-length relationship was measured intra-operatively using electrical stimulation, a force transducer, and a data-acquisition system. Muscle length was measured in maximally flexed and maximally extended position of the wrist. The spastic FCU was found to exert over 80\% of its maximum active force at maximal extension of the wrist and this indicates abundant overlap of the sarcomeres. At maximal wrist extension, FCU passive force corresponded with only 0.7-18\% of maximum active force. Both findings imply that the FCU sarcomeres are not overstretched when the wrist is extended. We conclude that the overstretching of in-series sarcomeres appears not to be the cause of contracture of the spastic FCU.

@article{Smeulders2004, abstract = {To answer the question whether the muscle contracture in patients with cerebral palsy is caused by overstretching of in-series sarcomeres we studied the active and passive force-length relationship of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU) in relation to its operating length range in 14 such patients with a flexion deformity of the wrist. Force-length relationship was measured intra-operatively using electrical stimulation, a force transducer, and a data-acquisition system. Muscle length was measured in maximally flexed and maximally extended position of the wrist. The spastic FCU was found to exert over 80\% of its maximum active force at maximal extension of the wrist and this indicates abundant overlap of the sarcomeres. At maximal wrist extension, FCU passive force corresponded with only 0.7-18\% of maximum active force. Both findings imply that the FCU sarcomeres are not overstretched when the wrist is extended. We conclude that the overstretching of in-series sarcomeres appears not to be the cause of contracture of the spastic FCU.}, added-at = {2014-07-19T21:22:16.000+0200}, author = {Smeulders, Mark J C and Kreulen, Michiel and Hage, J. Joris and Huijing, Peter A and van der Horst, Chantal M A M}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2aacb78bbf7daa8bb568b4a6a2180e162/ar0berts}, doi = {10.1016/j.orthres.2004.04.006}, groups = {public}, interhash = {7b30af09e247f2b287cfda50f21d8669}, intrahash = {aacb78bbf7daa8bb568b4a6a2180e162}, journal = {J Orthop Res}, keywords = {Adolescent; Adult; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Contracture; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle Contraction; Spasticity; Sarcomeres; Wrist Joint}, month = Nov, number = 6, pages = {1331--1335}, pii = {S0736026604001093}, pmid = {15475217}, timestamp = {2014-07-19T21:22:16.000+0200}, title = {Overstretching of sarcomeres may not cause cerebral palsy muscle contracture.}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orthres.2004.04.006}, username = {ar0berts}, volume = 22, year = 2004 }