Loerakker S, Stekelenburg A, Strijkers GJ, Rijpkema JJ, Baaijens FP, Bader DL, Nicolay K, Oomens CW, et al.
Annals of biomedical engineering. Date of publication 2010 Aug 1;volume 38(8):2577-87.
1. Ann Biomed Eng. 2010 Aug;38(8):2577-87. doi: 10.1007/s10439-010-0002-x. Epub 2010
Mar 16.
Temporal effects of mechanical loading on deformation-induced damage in skeletal
muscle tissue.
Loerakker S(1), Stekelenburg A, Strijkers GJ, Rijpkema JJ, Baaijens FP, Bader DL,
Nicolay K, Oomens CW.
Author information:
(1)Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O.
Box 513, Building W-Hoog 4.108, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
s.loerakker@tue.nl
Mechanical loading of soft tissues covering bony prominences can cause skeletal
muscle damage, ultimately resulting in a severe pressure ulcer termed deep tissue
injury. Recently, by means of an experimental-numerical approach, it was shown
that local tissue deformations cause tissue damage once a deformation threshold
is exceeded. In the present study, the effects of load exposure time and
intermittent load relief on the development of deformation-induced muscle damage
were investigated. The data showed that a 2 h loading period caused more damage
than 10 min loading. Intermittent load reliefs of 2 min during a 2 h loading
period had minimal effect on the evolution of skeletal muscle damage. In
addition, a local deformation threshold for damage was found, which was similar
for each of the loading regimes applied in this study. For short loading periods,
these results imply that local tissue deformations determine whether muscle
damage will develop and the exposure time influences the amount of tissue damage.
Temporary load reliefs were inefficient in reducing deformation-induced damage,
but may still influence the development of ischemia-induced damage during longer
loading periods.
DOI: 10.1007/s10439-010-0002-x
PMCID: PMC2900588
PMID: 20232152 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
