New perspectives on the development of muscle contractures following central motor lesions

TY - JOUR

T1 - New perspectives on the development of muscle contractures following central motor lesions

AU - Pingel, Jessica

AU - Bartels, Else Marie

AU - Nielsen, Jens Bo

N1 - CURIS 2017 NEXS 055

PY - 2017/2/15

Y1 - 2017/2/15

N2 - Muscle contractures are common in patients with central motor lesions, but the mechanisms responsible for the development of contractures are still unclear. Increased or decreased neural activation, protracted placement of a joint with the muscle in a short position and muscle atrophy have been suggested to be involved, but none of these mechanisms are sufficient to explain the development of muscle contractures alone. Here we propose that changes in tissue homeostasis in the neuromuscular–tendon–connective tissue complex is at the heart of the development of contractures, and that an integrated physiological understanding of the interaction between neural, mechanical and metabolic factors, as well as genetic and epigenetic factors, is necessary in order to unravel the mechanisms that result in muscle contractures. We hope thereby to contribute to a reconsideration of how and why muscle contractures develop in a way which will open a window towards new insight in this area in the future. (Figure presented.).

AB - Muscle contractures are common in patients with central motor lesions, but the mechanisms responsible for the development of contractures are still unclear. Increased or decreased neural activation, protracted placement of a joint with the muscle in a short position and muscle atrophy have been suggested to be involved, but none of these mechanisms are sufficient to explain the development of muscle contractures alone. Here we propose that changes in tissue homeostasis in the neuromuscular–tendon–connective tissue complex is at the heart of the development of contractures, and that an integrated physiological understanding of the interaction between neural, mechanical and metabolic factors, as well as genetic and epigenetic factors, is necessary in order to unravel the mechanisms that result in muscle contractures. We hope thereby to contribute to a reconsideration of how and why muscle contractures develop in a way which will open a window towards new insight in this area in the future. (Figure presented.).

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Muscle

KW - Contracture

KW - Central motor lesions

U2 - 10.1113/jp272767

DO - 10.1113/jp272767

M3 - Review

C2 - 27779750

SN - 0022-3751

VL - 595

SP - 1027

EP - 1038

JO - Journal of Physiology

JF - Journal of Physiology

IS - 4

ER -