Injuries suck…but improper managment blows!

Have you ever had an injury that required immobilization? Did you ever think that specific aspects of immobilization MAY actually do more harm than good?

Well here’s a little story about “Mo”:

The length of time one is immobilized and the position he/she is immobilized in are crucial factors related to a muscle’s ability to recover following injury. In particular, a muscle’s contractile and flexibility characteristics are influenced by the effects of immobilization.

Most changes that result from “Mo” occur at the myotendinous junction (MTJ), aka where the muscle meets the tendon.
Here it is called the musculo-tendinous complex (same thing). The white is the tendon and the pink is the muscle.

The position of “Mo” greatly affects the number and length of sacomeres in the MTJ. A sarcomere

For example: “Mo” in a lengthened position will INCREASE the number of sarcomeres in the MTJ while “Mo” in a shortened position will DECREASE the number.

These changes usually take place within 12-24 hours of “Mo” and continue until ROM is regained.

In addition, when muscles are “Mo’d” in a shortened position, atrophy results in a loss of contractile and non-contractile elements. Unfortunately, contractile elements are lost much more rapidly…resulting in decreased extensibility of the muscle…STIFFNESS!!

Lastly, when you “Mo” in a shortened position, the muscle that was “Mo’d” develops less force and tears at a shorter length than one that was “Mo’d” in a lengthened position…or one that wasn’t “Mo’d”! To illustrate this further, a muscle that was “Mo’d” in a lengthened position requires greater force and a greater stretch before it fails.
Now, both scenarios result in tears at the MTJ, just for different reasons.

So the next time someone tries to “Mo” you, just make sure they are doing so in the right position.

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