College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

In performing a Golgi tendon organ release on the Achilles tendon, which muscle is expected to have a decrease in tone?

1. Gastrocnemius

2. Tibialis anterior

3. Peroneus longus

4. Flexor hallucis longus

The correct answer is: Gastrocnemius

When performing a Golgi tendon organ (GTO) release on the Achilles tendon, the expected outcome is a decrease in tone of the gastrocnemius muscle. The GTO is located at the junction of muscle fibers and tendons, and its primary role is to sense changes in muscle tension. When excessive tension is detected, the GTO activates a reflex that inhibits the alpha motor neurons of the muscle, leading to a reduction in the muscle's tone and contraction strength. In this case, the gastrocnemius muscle is directly connected to the Achilles tendon. Therefore, by performing a GTO release on the Achilles tendon, the inhibitory effect is specifically applied to the gastrocnemius, resulting in diminished muscle tone. This is particularly relevant for therapeutic practices focused on muscle relaxation and reducing excessive muscle contraction, which can benefit conditions such as muscle tightness or spasms. The other muscles listed do not have a direct connection to the Golgi tendon organ being stimulated in this context, so they would not experience the same decrease in tone as the gastrocnemius. The GTO release procedure directly influences the muscle associated with the tendon being targeted, which is why the gastrocnemius is the correct answer to this question.