Article Summary

The research article “Muscle architecture adaptations to knee extensor eccentric training: rectus femoris vs. vastus lateralis” written by Baroni, Geremia, Pe, Franke, Karamanidis, and  Vaz and published in the journal of Muscle and Nerve explores the impact of eccentric training on the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL). The article is published in the Journal of  Muscle and Nerve volume 48 and pages 498-506, released in October 2013. The primary objective of Baroni et al.’s (2013) article was to determine the impact of eccentric training on the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL). Eccentric training is conducted by contracting the muscle while lengthening it with the goal of changing its structure.

The primary objective/aim of Baroni et al.’s (2013) research study was to assess and compare the effect of a twelve-week eccentric training program in twenty volunteer subjects with a critical focus on the fascicular geometry of rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL). The choice of RF and VL was based on the difference in their characteristics, as the researchers wanted to determine differences in outcomes. The study hypothesized that both pennation angle and fascicle length of RF and VL would increase after the exposure to the eccentric resistance training due to muscle damage. The study sought to answer three research questions which motivated the study. The first question was to explain the conflicting results related to the pennation angle and fascicle length as reported in previous studies conducted on animals. The second question was the lack of evidence on the time-course of the changes occurring in the RF and VL during the eccentric training. The final problem was to extend the eccentric exercise to humans as prior studies had not explored the existence of variations in muscles in humans.

Baroni et al. (2013) conducted a longitudinal clinical trial to meet the objective of their study. Twenty volunteer male university students were exposed to a twelve-week knee extensor program at the interval of four weeks. During the training period, the subjects were studied using the ultrasonography system to determine muscle thickness, pennation, and fascicle length of the RF and VL which were centers of observation in the study. Baroni et al. (2013) conducted their investigation according to the requirements form the Declaration of Helsinki and obtained ethical clearance from the institutional in research committee.

In the analysis of the recordings, the researchers conducted a statistical analysis by computing the mean of the readings recorded in the three scans from the ultrasonography. The mean was calculated based on the recordings obtained from the muscle thickness, pennation, and fascicle length. The results from the study indicated a high test-retest reliability in the testing. Other significant findings from the study included a minimal change in time for the transition to occur in the RF and VL changes. The tabulated and graphed results indicate a substantial change as shown on page 502 of Baroni et al. (2013).

In the discussion section, the researchers explain that a four-week eccentric resistance training was sufficient for significant changes, but they had to extend it to twelve weeks at an interval of four weeks for reliability. Baroni et al. (2013) conclude that even though their research was limited due to use of human subjects that in-depth scientific analysis of changes occurring in muscles, their study is a novelty for future exploration. The eccentric training program did not require a control group as the participants underwent the uncontrolled training before the eccentric resistance program.

Critical Review of the Article

Strengths and weakness of the article

The primary advantage of Baroni et al.’s (2013) is that it sets a novelty study in exploring the impact of eccentric training on humans. The study is the first to examine the effect of training on RF and VL when muscles are damaged in response to exercise. The use of the latest technology that allows the researchers to observe, read, and record the changes taking place in the muscles as the subjects train makes this study novelty and useful for future reference. Additionally, the researchers have started the article with a brief abstract that entails the choice of participants, the definition of the RF and VL, and the main findings of the study. The article finds significant relevance in academics and researchers interested in expounding on the topic in the future. Clinicians could also find the research relevant as the question explored could help in sporting activities and other training that require vigorous exercises and training interventions.

In spite of the above strengths, the article is limited in some areas that render the findings questionable. The section below discusses the strength and weakness in each of the parts of the article.

Title

The title of the article is “Muscle architecture adaptations to knee extensor eccentric training: rectus femoris vs. vastus lateralis.” This article is descriptive, as it sets out what the research work is all about and what the reader expects to find in the article. The inclusion of the “femoris vs. vastus lateralis” in the title indicates that the researchers want to contrast the findings in their results. However, the title is long and can put off the reader that is not interested in this topic. The article is also lacking some additional information. After reading this article, I found that the theme was to distinguish previous research findings that had been conducted in animal muscles by extending the study to humans. I think that the researchers could have added “in humans” at the end of the title to make it specific.

Problem statement and purpose statement

The problem is explained in a narrative format in short paragraphs that set the background for analysis. The research question is not specific, but Baroni et al. (2013) state that “this study was motivated by conflicting results related to pennation angle and…” (p.499). I support this descriptive nature of the problem and purpose statements as they provide the reader with enough information instead of just stating them directly. Since this was an experimental study, I think that the researchers were determined to provide enough information in this section so that the reader does not have to refer back or consult external sources due to lack of enough information.

Review of literature and theoretical framework

Baroni et al. (2013) have consulted a variety of external sources in their literature review. The consulted sources are cited using in-text citations and endnotes. All cited sources are included in the reference section in a numbered list. I am, however, concerned with the choice of literature sources. The researchers did not take into consideration the time of publication of sources. The first two sources were published in 1996, yet the study is conducted using the latest technology in an experimental approach in 2013. I think that there are sufficient and accurate research sources that could have replaced these old sources.

Hypothesis and research questions

Baroni et al. (2013) state that their study hypothesized that both pennation angle and fascicle length of RF and VL would increase after the exposure to the eccentric resistance training due to muscle damage. This hypothesis is relevant to the title and the objectives of the study. It sets out what the researchers intend to accomplish from the study. The only limitation is that it is not very specific to the theme of the study. The study sought to stand out from previous studies by focusing on humans. This hypothesis is very general.

Sample/participants

The sample for the study, according to Baroni et al. (2013) was twenty volunteering male university students of the age between twenty-four years and twenty-eight years. This sample is relatively good for intensive analysis of the results, but it is not representative. Additionally, the researchers did not use a controlled group in their experiment. Instead, they assumed that the subjects for the study had already been exposed to a controlled clinical examination before enrolling to the program. One can conclude that the findings from the clinical experiment could have yielded different results if there was a separate population used in the research. Additionally, the researchers have not explained if the sample for the study had been exposed to practice before. The researchers did not take prior precautions to make sure that the sample had been exposed to a normal environment before enrolling in the study.

Research design

This research was an experimental design in the form of a clinical trial. The volunteers were evaluated five times during the twelve-week four-interval training period. The exclusion criteria focused on physical abilities and health issues such as cardiovascular diseases and history of impairment in limbs. Eighteen volunteers completed the session, and two of the sample missed due to personal reasons.  This indicates that the results, in conclusion, were for eighteen participants. While this sample may have been sufficient for providing reasonable results, this number is insignificant for a study that seeks to have a global impact. The researchers limited their sample selection to male university students. If they had set an open room for non-students and women to participate, they could have afforded a reasonable sample of participants.

Methods

Baroni et al. (2013) used ultrasonography as a method of data collection. This is significant as it enabled them to observe the changes that had taken place in the muscles due to muscle damage. They also employed statistical analysis for their results, which made it possible for them to conclude by comparing the changes that had occurred in the results. Both methods are useful in the analysis of the results. However, the results were limited by the choice of human subjects which draws ethical considerations in scientific research. Scientific research should bring an in-depth analysis on the samples to make reasonable and reliable conclusions. Since the study was limited by ethical issues that protect the health and rights of the subjects, their findings remain limited for global applications.

Results

The researchers found that eccentric training damages the muscles, leading to a significant change in their length and pinnation. These results are logically presented and explain the topic. These findings were in line with the objective and hypothesis of the study. Baroni et al. (2013) also reveal that their results were reliable because they did not need a controlled sample in their study. The subjects for the study were assumed to have been under a controlled environment before they enrolled in the training program.

Discussion

The discussion of the findings supports the objective and the theoretical literature review section. Additionally, the results are in line with the hypothesis and the research questions, implying that Baroni et al. (2013) had researched their topic before setting out to explore it. The researchers admit that other studies exist with similar findings, but the subjects for those results were animals. As a result, Baroni et al.’s (2013) findings are a novelty and set the pace for future considerations. Future scholars could take into account the limitation of the scientific approach in the analysis of the sample and the small size of the sample. Since the researchers had access to technological equipment such as the ultrasonography, I think they did not have an excuse of using a small sample in their study. They could have considered increasing the study sample for better results.

In conclusion, Baroni et al.’s (2013) study providing the first intervention in the use of human subjects to analyze the impact of eccentric exercise on the RF and VL. The damage caused by the eccentric exercise on the muscles changes the pinnation and length of the muscle. While this study provides reliable findings supported by evidence from past studies and literature from experiments performed on animals, the study has various limitations that could have impacted the outcomes. Some of the flaws are in the sample selection and ethical consideration of the human samples as subjects. Ethical considerations limit intensive analysis and study of human subjects, implying that the researchers could have made significant assumptions to make their conclusions.

References

Baroni, M., B., Geremia, M., J., Pe, R., R., Franke, A., R., Karamanidis, K., & Vaz, A., M. (2013). Muscle architecture adaptations to knee extensor eccentric training: rectus femoris vs. vastus lateralis. Muscle & Nerve, 48, 498-506.

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