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Passive Warming Increases Muscle Extensibility and May Reduce Strain Risk
Full Title
The effects of passive warming on muscle injury
Summary
This study examined how passive warming affects the mechanical properties of musculotendinous units in rabbits. Muscles warmed to 39 C had a significantly greater elongation before failure compared to controls at 35 C. Though failure force was slightly lower in warmed muscles, their ability to absorb energy before rupture increased. All failures occurred at the distal musculotendinous junction. These results suggest that increasing tissue temperature improves flexibility and may help prevent strain-related injury.