ROLE OF 2JMS IN SPORT AND EXERCISE

Dr. Akshat Pandey is GAYO’s Hon. Head of Faculty – Exercise & Sports Kinesiology & Biomechanics & Sports Injury Management. He is also a member of Academy’s Internal Quality Assurance Committee.

He is a sports physio with deep national and international experience. He has worked with the Indian Weightlifting Federation Core Group London 2012 / SAI-NSNIS Patiala, CWG2010 Core Group and the Indian Cycling Federation / SAI-NSNIS Patiala, CWG2014 / Asian Games 2014 Korea Indian Gymnastic and at the National Boxing Academy – Rohtak – Sports Authority of India. His email address is: pandey.aiims@gmail.com

In this article, Akshat examines the role of two jointed muscles in sport and exercise.

Most muscles in the body cross a single joint and thus create movement of the bones – or, biomechanically, “levers” – in the form of a flexion, extension, adduction, abduction or rotations, to name a few of the “kinesiological” movements. The Two Joint or Biarticulated Muscles (let’s refer them affectionately as “2JMs”) are muscles that cross two joints of the body and are structured to perform more than one joint function. For instance, the Rectus Femoris from the quadriceps femoris crosses both the hip and knee joints and performs both hip flexion and knee extension. It both lifts and extends your leg (knee joint).

The 2JMs are enable efficiency of movement. Logically, less energy is required to move two joints with the same muscle than recruit two different muscles. This is why most of the 2JMs are used for strength and speed (power) movements like walking, jogging, running, jumping, climbing, etc. Importantly, the 2JM is made to stretch before it contracts, consequently maximizing power for a ballistic movement.

Advantages include –

This is a disadvantage with all 2JMs: Performing both joint functions at the one and same time reduces the composite force that is capable of being produced at both the joints. You cannot have maximum knee flexion and equal intensity of plantarflexion at the one and same time.

Active Insufficiency of Muscle

Active insufficiency happens when a multi-joint muscle reaches a shortened length where it can no more exert an effective force.

Example: you can fully flex the knee on one leg while simultaneously try to swing that leg back to achieve full hip extension. Hip extension will be restricted because the hamstrings are unable to shorten enough to produce the full ROM. A cramping in the hamstring muscles can occur during this movement. Similarly, if you try hyper-extended the hip joint, and then flexing your knee, you will experience limited knee flexion.

The hamstrings can only perform one of these functions fully at one time. When both are attempted at the same time, the muscle goes “slack” and is thus unable to contract effectively because it is already in a contracted state. Extending the knee joint should restore full ROM of hip extension and the difference will be significant.

The gastrocnemius of the calf plantar flexes the ankle but also crosses over the knee joint. Therefore, if the knee is bent, or flexed, shortening the muscle at that joint, it can no longer apply as effective a force in plantarflexion. This fact is taken advantage of during calf raises, when, if done seated with the knees bent, shifts the focus from the gastrocnemius, which is actively insufficient, to the soleus, making it the prime mover in seated calf raises. When the calf raises are done standing, the gastrocnemius can apply a full force.

Passive Insufficiency

This is the inability of a 2JM to lengthen to a point that allows full ROM of all the joints it crosses simultaneously. An instance of passive insufficiency will be short hamstrings, which results in the inability of the muscle to normally lengthen to the point that an integrated combination of hip flexion and knee extension can occur – something which is in all sports.

The passive insufficiency of the hamstring can be experienced by lying on your back and using your arms to bring one leg toward your shoulder while keeping the knee fully extended. The hamstring will experience a noticeable stretch and at some point you will no longer be able to move the leg toward the shoulder. The hamstring muscles are not capable of lengthening to a degree that allows full hip flexion and full knee extension simultaneously. However, if you now flex (bend) the knee, you will be able to bring the leg closer to the shoulder.

Role in Sports and Fitness

When dealing with Active and Passive insufficiencies in sports and fitness training special emphasis ought to be given to varying the training into steps or phases taking into consideration specific aspects of body weight, muscle girth, ROM and load distribution both during off and on season periods as to avoid tears, swelling, soft tissue trauma and compartment syndrome.

Even as you are reading this, try these “experiments” as examples!

Consider the hamstring muscle group. Stand up and extend your leg behind you such that the ankle is plantarflexed – toes are pointing away from the shin bones. Now, flex your knee by bringing your toes towards your butt. You will feel the middle of the hamstring muscle getting into a cramp! The 2JM trying to perform both functions (hip extension and knee flexion) to their maximum. The result is weakness and cramping!

In the weight training studio, the knee extension machine has a backrest that inclines backwards. You settle into the seat with your back resting against the inclined backrest. In this position, it is easy to extend the knees. The rectus femoris at the hip end has stretched or relaxed to enable maximum contraction at the knee’s end thus enabling a powerful contraction leading to commensurate force in the knee extension. Now, lean forward to the extent possible in hip flexion position – your chest should be over the thighs. Now, you will find the knee extension being not as “easy” as in the earlier, regular, position. In the hip-flexed position, you attempted to contract both the ends of the rectus femoris at the same time. The contraction at the knee joint will thus necessarily be weak.

These 2JMs cannot be ignored during physical activities or activities like running downhill or attempting a Teaser or an abdominal exercise like the V-Ups! Training these muscles will influence the way we train for sports or exercise where multiple joints are involved.

Let’s consider here some of the 2JMs.

Rectus Femoris strain is commonly seen in football or sprinting, running or jumping. The common injuries are – partial tear, swelling or groin pain. Injury causes include a sudden onset of eccentric contraction of muscle or kicking (knee extension with hip flexion) with greater force without warm up. Usually, the injury occurs near to the muscle’s origin. Tenderness is usually present with pain in thigh (anterior aspects, medial and distal aspects). Adequate rest, Cryokinetics and, in the last resort, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the treatment of choice.

The longest muscles in the human body, it runs down the thigh in the anterior compartment. It crosses the hip joint and the knee joint. Commonly described as a knee extensor, it produces true flexion at the hip joint. It contributes to actions including flexion, lateral rotation and a weak abduction at the hip joint.

It is associated with bursitis in Pes Anserinus (“goose foot”) – the conjoined tendons of sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus that insert onto the anteromedial (front and inside) surface of the proximal tibia. Injury causes include sedentary lifestyle involving a lot of sitting, chronic muscle tightness and, of course, actions demanding simultaneous explosive muscle contractions at both ends of the muscle. Symptoms include burning sensation in front of the hip, hypersensitivity and inflammation inside of knee joint. Rehab will include adequate rest, local application of ultrasound therapy, ice massage or NSAIDs.

It is a muscle of the thigh which acts on the illiotibial band and assists in hip joint flexion, medial rotation and abduction. It proceeds from the ASIS to the Illiotibial Track via Greater Trochanter.

Common injuries include lower limb overuse injuries, ow back pain, strain, due to faulty training and posture, etc. The Illiotibial Band Syndrome is symptomized by inflammation, decreased strength in quadriceps, poor flexibility and friction during walking etc. These injuries ate commonly found in long distance runners who typically may suffer from over use and weakness of quadriceps, leg length variations, abnormal pelvic tilt and orthopaedic conditions such as bow legs. Treatment includes adequate rest, cryotherapy, elevation, stretching and NSAIDs.

Rehabilitation and Recovery

Grade 1 hamstring injuries will take few days to 14 days week while Grade 2 and 3 injuries may extend to more than four weeks’ time subject to local and associated factors. Treatment usually starts with R.I.C.E. protocols, adequate rest and NSAIDs, immobilization with physiotherapy as prescribed.

Common injuries include over-stretching against resistance, standing in “tip-toe” position and may be accompanied by pain, swelling, bruising in the calf muscle along with ankle injuries like fractures, laxity, weakness and muscle cramps.

Rehabilitation and Recovery

Usually lasts for two weeks and respond well to conservative treatment protocols of R.I.C.E. and supportive taping. However, if the pain continues, specific diagnosis and treatment approaches may be required.