First Post Part 5

[johnsmith]

A standard muscle consists of many fibres. These fibres have contractile units known as sarcomeres. Muscle fibres are composed of many sarcomere units. The length of the sarcomeres dictates the overall length of a muscle fibre. There is a relationship between the length of a sarcomere and the force it is able to generate. This relationship is shown in figure 1.

As can be seen the more a sarcomere (muscle fibre) contracts the weaker the sarcomere (muscle fibre). When the sarcomere (muscle fibre) is stretched it begins to lose strength.

A standard muscle has strength in normal usage by contracting as little as possible and by recruiting as many fibres to contract as needed. In normal muscle usage feedback mechanisms recruit more fibres when more strength is needed. What can happen is that we can have a positive feedback mechanism in muscle usage and this is where things can go very wrong.

The feedback mechanism detects more strength is needed. Instead of recruiting more fibres we put more effect into contraction of the fibres that we are already using. The result is that the muscle fibres in use become weaker. The feedback detects not enough strength is available and more effect is put into contraction. We thus have no strength to do a task and over contracted muscles. This short of incorrect muscle control behaviour needs to looked for when doing tasks.

When doing a task well we recruit multiple muscle fibres. The muscle fibres when all exerting the right strength allows the smooth movement of a structure. This example is shown in figure 2 and here we consider 5 muscle fibres. Look at figure 3. Here we are using as in figure 2 five muscle fibres to do a task. However, one fibre is not contracting. The result instead of the direction of pull being horizontal the direction of pull is at an angle to the horizontal. Look at figure 4. Here we are using as in figure 2 five muscle fibres to do a task. However, one fibre is pulling with more power. The result instead of the direction of pull being horizontal the direction of pull is at an angle to the horizontal.

When engaged in doing movement around a joint does the events shown in figures 4 and 5 happen. I think it does. I have experienced very painful thumb joints on occasion due to I believe this mechanism. When a painful joint occurs what is the standard medical treatment? It is usually painkiller or some sort of injection into the joint. if we have the situation of painful joint caused by situation shown in figures 4 and 5 can injection into the joint or painkiller cause the muscle fibres to re-coordinate as they should. The answer is no it cannot.

The issuing of painkiller is very easy. The application of an injection is very easy. The exploration of whether there is faulty coordination is never looked at.

From studies I have undertaken using my hands on people with painful thumb joints there is often an over contracted set muscle fibres in the forearm. I found that stretching out the over contracted muscle fibres in the forearm the pain in the thumb is removed. It is my belief that some forms of tennis elbow is caused by the mechanisms shown in figures 3 and 4.

I have come to the belief that some forms of arthritis is not a bone problem but a brain problem. The brain is not coordinating the muscles in a way that is needed such as shown in figure 2. The muscles have become over contracted and are functioning as shown in figures 3 and 4. This is for the reader to investigate in themselves.

There are means to reduce the problem shown by figures 3 and 4. I will attempt to describe this in another post. I am presented working theories which I use to help manage my chronic health condition. It is always advisable not to take theories as truth, but to investigate them in yourselves to see if they are helpful or not in managing your condition.