Long COVID-19 alters muscle architecture and muscle-tendon force transmission: a one-year longitudinal study
IntroductionThere are limited studies on the long-term effects of COVID-19 on skeletal muscle morphology and architecture. Therefore, this study aims to address this gap by assessing the effects of prior COVID-19 infection on quadriceps muscle architecture and tendon-aponeurosis complex (TAC) proper...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1641046/full |
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| author | Leandro Gomes de Jesus Ferreira Leandro Gomes de Jesus Ferreira Isabella da Silva Almeida Isabella da Silva Almeida Rochelle Rocha Costa Gabrielle Vieira Roriz Gabrielle Vieira Roriz Jeam Marcel Geremia João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan Rita de Cássia Marqueti Rita de Cássia Marqueti |
| author_facet | Leandro Gomes de Jesus Ferreira Leandro Gomes de Jesus Ferreira Isabella da Silva Almeida Isabella da Silva Almeida Rochelle Rocha Costa Gabrielle Vieira Roriz Gabrielle Vieira Roriz Jeam Marcel Geremia João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan Rita de Cássia Marqueti Rita de Cássia Marqueti |
| author_sort | Leandro Gomes de Jesus Ferreira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThere are limited studies on the long-term effects of COVID-19 on skeletal muscle morphology and architecture. Therefore, this study aims to address this gap by assessing the effects of prior COVID-19 infection on quadriceps muscle architecture and tendon-aponeurosis complex (TAC) properties over a one-year period, comparing three cohorts: individuals with moderate COVID-19, individuals with severe COVID-19, and a healthy control group.MethodsSeventy participants were included in the study and allocated to three groups: moderate COVID-19 (n = 22), severe COVID-19 (n = 18), and control (n = 30). Four assessments were conducted over 1 year for the COVID groups. Maximal voluntary isometric (MVIC) knee extension contractions were performed on an isometric dynamometer, with simultaneous ultrasound imaging of the vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles. Fascicle length (FL) and pennation angle (PA) were obtained at rest and during MVIC, along with TAC displacement. Generalized Estimating Equation models were used to evaluate muscle variables, with “group” and “time” as factors. The model fit was adjusted, with ‘torque’ as a covariate.ResultsRegarding muscle architecture, FL was greater in the severe COVID-19 group during early post-infection assessments for the RF at rest (p = 0.043). Additionally, both COVID-19 groups exhibited longer VL fascicles compared to controls (p = 0.032). TAC displacement was reduced in the severe COVID-19 group (RF: p = 0.008; VL: p = 0.047) compared to control. TAC stiffness did not differ between groups (p = 0.517), but torque production demonstrated an effect on this variable (p = 0.001). Both COVID-19 groups presented reduced PA for the VL at rest (p = 0.012) compared to control. Additionally, torque played a crucial role in influencing PA in both muscles, at rest and during contraction.ConclusionParticipants with severe COVID-19 exhibited alterations in muscle architecture, which may contribute to persistent muscular weakness even one-year post-infection. The findings underscore the potential role of muscle strength, particularly the impact of torque on TAC stiffness and PA across all groups. Long COVID-19 rehabilitation and exercise physiologists should prioritize quadriceps strengthening strategies to restore muscle architecture and optimize force transmission. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-297ffcc1f0a24675b6a2e619e38da992 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-297ffcc1f0a24675b6a2e619e38da9922025-08-25T05:25:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-08-011610.3389/fphys.2025.16410461641046Long COVID-19 alters muscle architecture and muscle-tendon force transmission: a one-year longitudinal studyLeandro Gomes de Jesus Ferreira0Leandro Gomes de Jesus Ferreira1Isabella da Silva Almeida2Isabella da Silva Almeida3Rochelle Rocha Costa4Gabrielle Vieira Roriz5Gabrielle Vieira Roriz6Jeam Marcel Geremia7João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan8João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan9Rita de Cássia Marqueti10Rita de Cássia Marqueti11Laboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilLaboratory of Molecular Analysis, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilLaboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilLaboratory of Molecular Analysis, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilGraduate Program in Physical Education, Physical Education Department, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilLaboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilLaboratory of Molecular Analysis, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilExercise Research Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilLaboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilLaboratory of Molecular Analysis, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilLaboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilLaboratory of Molecular Analysis, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias em Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, BrazilIntroductionThere are limited studies on the long-term effects of COVID-19 on skeletal muscle morphology and architecture. Therefore, this study aims to address this gap by assessing the effects of prior COVID-19 infection on quadriceps muscle architecture and tendon-aponeurosis complex (TAC) properties over a one-year period, comparing three cohorts: individuals with moderate COVID-19, individuals with severe COVID-19, and a healthy control group.MethodsSeventy participants were included in the study and allocated to three groups: moderate COVID-19 (n = 22), severe COVID-19 (n = 18), and control (n = 30). Four assessments were conducted over 1 year for the COVID groups. Maximal voluntary isometric (MVIC) knee extension contractions were performed on an isometric dynamometer, with simultaneous ultrasound imaging of the vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles. Fascicle length (FL) and pennation angle (PA) were obtained at rest and during MVIC, along with TAC displacement. Generalized Estimating Equation models were used to evaluate muscle variables, with “group” and “time” as factors. The model fit was adjusted, with ‘torque’ as a covariate.ResultsRegarding muscle architecture, FL was greater in the severe COVID-19 group during early post-infection assessments for the RF at rest (p = 0.043). Additionally, both COVID-19 groups exhibited longer VL fascicles compared to controls (p = 0.032). TAC displacement was reduced in the severe COVID-19 group (RF: p = 0.008; VL: p = 0.047) compared to control. TAC stiffness did not differ between groups (p = 0.517), but torque production demonstrated an effect on this variable (p = 0.001). Both COVID-19 groups presented reduced PA for the VL at rest (p = 0.012) compared to control. Additionally, torque played a crucial role in influencing PA in both muscles, at rest and during contraction.ConclusionParticipants with severe COVID-19 exhibited alterations in muscle architecture, which may contribute to persistent muscular weakness even one-year post-infection. The findings underscore the potential role of muscle strength, particularly the impact of torque on TAC stiffness and PA across all groups. Long COVID-19 rehabilitation and exercise physiologists should prioritize quadriceps strengthening strategies to restore muscle architecture and optimize force transmission.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1641046/fullfascicular lengthpennation anglemuscle ultrasoundmuscle-tendon unitCOVID-19 pandemic |
| spellingShingle | Leandro Gomes de Jesus Ferreira Leandro Gomes de Jesus Ferreira Isabella da Silva Almeida Isabella da Silva Almeida Rochelle Rocha Costa Gabrielle Vieira Roriz Gabrielle Vieira Roriz Jeam Marcel Geremia João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan Rita de Cássia Marqueti Rita de Cássia Marqueti Long COVID-19 alters muscle architecture and muscle-tendon force transmission: a one-year longitudinal study Frontiers in Physiology fascicular length pennation angle muscle ultrasound muscle-tendon unit COVID-19 pandemic |
| title | Long COVID-19 alters muscle architecture and muscle-tendon force transmission: a one-year longitudinal study |
| title_full | Long COVID-19 alters muscle architecture and muscle-tendon force transmission: a one-year longitudinal study |
| title_fullStr | Long COVID-19 alters muscle architecture and muscle-tendon force transmission: a one-year longitudinal study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long COVID-19 alters muscle architecture and muscle-tendon force transmission: a one-year longitudinal study |
| title_short | Long COVID-19 alters muscle architecture and muscle-tendon force transmission: a one-year longitudinal study |
| title_sort | long covid 19 alters muscle architecture and muscle tendon force transmission a one year longitudinal study |
| topic | fascicular length pennation angle muscle ultrasound muscle-tendon unit COVID-19 pandemic |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1641046/full |
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