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Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles

Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles

The period of muscle contraction primarily influences the duration of stimulation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the presence of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the availability of energy or ATP to support contractions.
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open.

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

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The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
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Somatic Spinal Reflexes

Somatic Spinal Reflexes

Somatic spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary muscular responses to external stimuli that involve the somatic musculature and the spinal cord.
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Motor Unit Stimulation

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When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...

Smooth Muscle Contraction

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Smooth muscle contraction is a complex process vital for various bodily functions, from maintaining blood vessel tension to facilitating the movement of food through the digestive tract. Unlike striated muscles, smooth muscle contraction begins more slowly and lasts longer.
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...

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Muscle fatigue refers to the decline in a muscle's ability to maintain the force of contraction after prolonged activity. It primarily stems from changes within muscle fibers. Even before experiencing muscle fatigue, one may feel tired and have the urge to stop the activity. This response, known as central fatigue, occurs due to changes in the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. While there is no single mechanism that induces fatigue, it may serve as a protective response...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Application of Consistent Massage-Like Perturbations on Mouse Calves and Monitoring the Resulting Intramuscular Pressure Changes

Application of Consistent Massage-Like Perturbations on Mouse Calves and Monitoring the Resulting Intramuscular Pressure Changes

Published on: September 20, 2019

An acute bout of self-myofascial release increases range of motion without a subsequent decrease in muscle activation

Graham Z MacDonald¹, Michael D H Penney, Michelle E Mullaley

¹School of human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

|May 15, 2012

Summary

Self-myofascial release (SMR) using a foam roller can improve knee joint range of motion (ROM) without negatively impacting muscle force or activation. This study provides evidence for foam rolling

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Area of Science:

Sports Medicine
Exercise Physiology
Rehabilitation Science

Background:

Foam rolling, or self-myofascial release (SMR), is widely believed to enhance muscular function and joint mobility.
Empirical evidence supporting these benefits, particularly concerning acute effects on muscle performance and range of motion (ROM), remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the acute effects of SMR via foam rolling on quadriceps muscle force, activation, and knee joint ROM in healthy, active males.
To determine if SMR influences neuromuscular performance or joint mobility in the short term.

Main Methods:

Eleven healthy, physically active males underwent two conditions: SMR of the quadriceps using a foam roller and a control (no SMR).
Measurements of quadriceps maximum voluntary contraction force, evoked force, muscle activation, and knee joint ROM were taken before, and at 2 and 10 minutes after each condition.
A 2-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the data.

Main Results:

No significant differences in neuromuscular dependent variables (force, activation) were observed between the SMR and control conditions.
A statistically significant increase in knee joint ROM was found after foam rolling, with improvements of 10° at 2 minutes and 8° at 10 minutes (p < 0.001).
A significant negative correlation between force and ROM before SMR was no longer present after foam rolling (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

An acute bout of SMR of the quadriceps effectively enhances knee joint ROM.
Foam rolling does not appear to cause a concomitant deficit in muscle performance (force or activation) in the short term.
These findings provide empirical support for the use of foam rolling as a method to acutely improve joint mobility.