August 14, 2023
Most of us have learned “static stretching” in school or sports, a process that involves holding and pulling a tight muscle in trying to the body so you can simultaneously contract several muscles, releasing large patterns of tightness all at once. Stretching only contracts or loosens one muscle at a time.
Pandiculation also allows us to try something better.
Our brain controls muscles and movement. Without the brain and central nervous system, muscles don’t move. Electrical signals from our brain and nervous system tell muscles how tor Amnesia.
When a muscle tightens, it sends information to relaxation.
Static stretching pulls a muscle with force. If you pull a muscle farther than feels comfortable, you may be in pain and not know what to engage your brain with the muscle.
In short, pandiculation strengthens our brain to the stretched muscle, triggering a tightening in that muscle and inhibiting a tightness in the opposite muscle. In a static stretch, your brain is not involved in the process, counteracting your goals.
Verified Expert Profiles
Dr. Lev Kalika is a world-recognized expert in musculoskeletal medicine. with 20+ years of clinical experience in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasonography, rehabilitative sports medicine and conservative orthopedics. In addition to operating his clinical practice in Manhattan, he regularly publishes peer-reviewed research on ultrasound-guided therapies and procedures. He serves as a peer reviewer for Springer Nature.
Dr. Kalika is an esteemed member of multiple professional organizations, including:
Below is a prime example of how ultrasound can take the guesswork out of diagnosis.
A bad physical therapy experience is one of the primary causes of unnecessary surgery
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating
the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy
due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient
to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed
to be a complete tear with muscle contraction
under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris
with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited
on dynamic sonography examination
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