Contribution of the peroneus longus neuromuscular compartments to eversion and plantarflexion of the ankle.

Guillermo Mendez-Rebolledo,Oscar Valencia,Kohei Watanabe,Rodrigo Guzmán-Venegas,Yunju Lee

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0250159

Guillermo Mendez-Rebolledo, Oscar Valencia + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250159

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Abstract

Compartmentalization of animal and human skeletal muscle by multiple motor nerve branches known as the neuromuscular compartment (NMC) has been observed primarily in muscles that participate in a plane of motion. In this context, the peroneus longus muscle contributes to eversion and plantarflexion of the ankle and the presence of NMCs has been reported. However, no research has reported the selective activation of the compartments of the peroneus longus during the performance of different ankle movements. The purpose of this research was to determine the contribution of peroneus longus NMCs, through multi-channel surface electromyography (sEMG), to eversion and plantarflexion movements. Multi-channel sEMG was recorded from the peroneus longus muscle by using an electrode grid during eversion and plantarflexion of the ankle at 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The root mean square and displacement of the center of mass position in the X (COMx) and Y (COMy) components were calculated. The primary finding was that eversion showed significantly higher sEMG amplitude than plantarflexion in the posterior compartment in low, moderate, and high percentages of MVIC. However, no significant difference in sEMG amplitude was observed in the anterior compartment between eversion and plantarflexion. In addition, a posterior displacement of the COMx in eversion compared to plantarflexion in all MVIC percentages, with greater topographic distancing of the COMx at higher levels of activation. In conclusion, the peroneus longus muscle presented NMCs; the anterior compartment contributed to both eversion and plantarflexion movements, whereas the posterior compartment mainly contributed to the eversion movement of the ankle in low, moderate, and high percentages of MVIC.

Highlights

Compartmentalization of animal and human skeletal muscles by multiple motor nerve branches, known as the neuromuscular compartment (NMC), has been observed primarily in muscles that participate in a plane of motion [1,2,3]
We hypothesize that the peroneus longus muscle presents NMCs compatible with a spatial distribution depending on the motor task; the anterior compartment contributes to plantarflexion, whereas the posterior compartment mainly contributes to eversion movement of the ankle
Post-hoc analysis showed that COMy during plantarflexion at 70% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) was significantly (p = 0.0260) displaced to the cephalic part of the peroneus longus compared to the position of COMy during plantarflexion at 30% MVIC (Fig 3)

Summary

Introduction

Compartmentalization of animal and human skeletal muscles by multiple motor nerve branches, known as the neuromuscular compartment (NMC), has been observed primarily in muscles that participate in a plane of motion [1,2,3]. Proximal and distal regions of the rectus femoris had higher sEMG amplitude during hip flexion and knee extension, respectively [3] These investigations focused on mono or bi-articular muscles that have clearly defined functions in a plane of movement. The peroneus longus muscle presents a compartmental subdivision from an anatomical and biomechanical point of view [5,6,7], and this muscle contributes to eversion and plantarflexion during motor tasks like walking and running on inclined planes [16,17,18]

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