Let's talk about muscle damage and repair post LL.

[OneSevenOne]

If you have seen a few posts from me recently you may think I am obsessed with this. For that I apologise, however I feel it is something we ALL should be very concerned over.

I have come across several studies, and while it is no secret LL cause muscle damage, it is perhaps the most important part of LL to minimize.  This is a quote from an abstract of a study I have been reading:

"During the process of distraction osteogenesis, peripheral soft tissues are distracted at the same time, so the surrounding soft tissues such as nerves, vessels, muscles and joints are often injured. Recently numbers of soft tissue problems are concerned. In the 1980s, Illizarov himself had researched and writen some papers about these problems. In 1990, Paley pointed out that the prominent problem in DO is about muscle but not bone."

It is reassuring to read the following further down:

"Distracting tibia induces the injury of gastrocnemius, but gastrocnemius can repair by itself during consolidation period."

"During slow limb lengthening, the subclinical peripheral muscle injury is reversible. The natural repair of the injuried muscle has begun as soon as the muscle was injured."

I have not read the full study because it cost's $80.  However I feel we would all benefit from having this kind of research.  What would be the general feeling of a group buy of such research papers where the findings may be discussed here for all to benefit?  SysOp could perhaps set up a donation page, if several of us chip in the price of a Sandwich we could have access to informative medical research on LL.

I really would like this to take off and people to discuss their research.  I am an academic but by no means medical in anyway, never the less I find comfort in science and I don't think we can ever know too much about this process.  So please give feedback link to any studies you have found and please share your opinions on the group buy of certain studies/subscriptions idea!

171.

Link to the Study...

http://www.res-medical.com/surgery/95207

[navlo]

I really like the idea to talk about scientific papers about Limb lengthening.
While I haven't followed medical studies, I also have a strong scientific background.
By the way, I had begun to collect (free) pdf on the subject ( not only about muscle issues) and wanted to post them on the forum but wasn't sure it would interest people.

[OneSevenOne]

Do it!  Also offer your interpretation please! 

[OneSevenOne]

Interesting read about regular high heel wearers (cheeky!  ) have shorter muscle fibers in their calf muscles.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10651020

Some quick excerpts:

"Scans of the calf muscles in a group of frequent heel wearers found muscle fibres were, on average, 13% shorter than in those who avoided high heels.

The Journal of Experimental Biology study also found high heels led to stiffer tendons in the calf."

"This causes discomfort when walking on flat feet because the tendon cannot stretch sufficiently, Professor Narici said."

"Some time spent in flatter footwear as well as stretching exercises would help to combat the effect, experts said."

So one might conclude that the opposite should also be true, regular stretching not only increases suppleness but may also elongate muscle fibres leading to a smoother LL?