<ul>
 	<li>Do you have clients who just can't move very well?</li>
 	<li>Do they stretch regularly but still don't improve their posture or movement?</li>
 	<li>Do you wish you had something new in your tool box?</li>
 	<li>Do you wish you knew more about how to help clients with movement 'issues'?</li>
</ul>
What if I suggested to you that not all muscles only need to be stretched and that more often than not muscles may require a low level contraction to improve function? If you have never heard of subclinical muscle spasm or Post Contraction Sensory Discharge please do read on....

&nbsp;

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-26985" src="https://biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/shutterstock_1054776068-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" width="755" height="296" />

&nbsp;
<h2><span style="color: #808080;"><b>Question</b>: What is muscle spasm?<i> …’A muscle that cannot relax’ , </i>Dvorak</span></h2>
Ribot-Ciscar et al has established that a muscle relaxes maximally after it has been contracted sub-maximally and for a prolonged period. He refers to it as <i>Post Contraction Sensory Discharge. </i>

The anti-spasm, or 20/20 muscle energy technique (M.E.T) as we refer to it (20% effort muscle contraction held for 20 seconds), is described below by E. Ribot-Ciscar, M. F. Tardy-Gervet, J. P. Vedel and J. P. Roll.
<blockquote><i>Summary</i><i> “The activities of human muscle spindle primary endings were recorded in the lateral peroneal nerve using the microneurographic method. The aim of the study was to test whether voluntary isometric contraction causes any after-effects, first in the resting discharge of muscle spindle primary endings and secondly in their responses to a slow ramp stretch. To investigate the latter point, the initial angular position of the ankle was passively adjusted until the unit fell silent, in order to introduce a delay in the responses to muscle stretch”....they found that “Isometric voluntary contraction led to changes in muscle spindle stretch sensitivity which resulted in a reduction in the stretch threshold and a decrease in the muscle spindle dynamic sensitivity. These data suggest that the after-effects observed may have been triggered by static fusimotor neurones. The results are discussed with reference to the theory according to which the processing by the CNS of muscular proprioceptive messages deals mainly with signals arising from muscles stretched during movement, and it is concluded that the coactivation of alpha and gamma motoneurones during the contraction facilitates the coding of the parameters of forthcoming stretching movements, by the muscle spindles”. </i></blockquote>
&nbsp;

So in other words the M.E.T exercises like the 4 Sign or Leg Press, allow the muscle to stretch easier after the ‘contraction’, and consequently <b>improves the overall function</b> of the muscle.

No single method will help all ‘types’ of muscle spasm of course, this is one of many ways that can help. What this technique is great for is a great way to provide your clients with a method that they can help themselves so they’re don’t become reliant on their therapist or trainer. It’s something to empower them to have control over their own movement limitations between sessions with their practitioner.

&nbsp;

<hr />

<blockquote>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #808080;"><strong><img class="wp-image-25128 alignleft" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1520541617-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="302" height="231" /></strong></span></h2>
<h2>Muscle in subclinical spasm</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #808080;"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>What it is?</strong></span>: A muscle in spasm is one that cannot relax in other words it is in a state of constant contraction (tension).</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #808080;"><span style="color: #000000;">Why?</span>: Usually because it’s trying to protect something (a joint or nerve perhaps) or its being loaded from another biomechanical problem remote from that muscle.</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #808080;"><span style="color: #000000;">Management?:</span> Helped by M.E.T's and maybe massage techniques.</span></h2>
</blockquote>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<hr />

&nbsp;
<h2>Muscle that is 'tight'</h2>
<blockquote>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #808080;"><span style="color: #000000;"><b>What it is?</b></span>: A short/inflexible muscle (tight) is one that is not in spasm, it is merely shorter in length than it was</span></h2>
<img class="wp-image-23770 alignright" src="https://biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/shutterstock_1176407491-2.jpg" alt="" width="172" height="230" />
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #808080;"> intended (or needs) to be.</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #808080;"><span style="color: #000000;"><b>Why?</b></span>: Often adaptive shortening caused by adapting to inactivity, lack of use through full range, poor posture or poor technique.</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #808080;"><span style="color: #000000;"><b>Management?</b></span>: Helped by stretching techniques, some massage techniques may also help.</span></h2>
</blockquote>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<hr />

<blockquote>
<h2><span style="color: #808080;"><b><img class="wp-image-23141 alignleft" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/shutterstock_383061178-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="361" height="271" /></b></span></h2>
<h2></h2>
<h2><em><span style="color: #808080;">Tardeau and Tarbury in the late 90’s found that up to 40% of a muscle can change its composition if its been in spasm for more than 6 weeks to become more tendon-like (none contractile) to avoid the muscle having to exert energy to contract the muscle to protect (a joint for example). </span></em></h2>
<h2><em><span style="color: #808080;">If the muscle is fibrotic, it requires less effort and therefore is less susceptible to fatigue, it is a body’s way of compensating and being ‘efficient’; not always productive or effective though as its painful of course.</span></em></h2>
<h2></h2>
</blockquote>
&nbsp;

<hr />

<h2></h2>
<h2>Finally..</h2>
Ribot-Ciscar et al refers to a muscle relaxing optimally after a prolonged sub maximal contractions. Jiri Dvorak (Neuroscientist &amp; FIFA Chief Medical Officer) refers to <i>Post Contraction Sensory Discharge</i>. Ribot-Ciscar looked at human muscle spindle primary endings to test whether voluntary isometric contraction causes any after-effects, first in the resting discharge of muscle spindle primary endings and secondly in their responses to a slow ramp stretch. This physiology has not been shown to be present in a ‘tight’ muscle.
<h2>Would you like to learn more about techniques like this?</h2>
<h1><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/biomechanics-coach-diploma-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE</a></h1>