Exercise-induced changes in triceps surae tendon stiffness and muscle strength affect running economy in humans

2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (6) ◽  
pp. 1605-1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Albracht ◽  
Adamantios Arampatzis
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Running Economy ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Tendon Stiffness ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Induced Changes

scholarly journals Effects of long-term athletic training on muscle morphology and tendon stiffness in preadolescence: association with jump performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 120 (12) ◽  
pp. 2715-2727
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Pentidis ◽  
Falk Mersmann ◽  
Sebastian Bohm ◽  
Erasmia Giannakou ◽  
Nickos Aggelousis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Achilles Tendon ◽  
Muscle Hypertrophy ◽  
Muscle Thickness ◽  
Pennation Angle ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Plantar Flexors ◽  
Tendon Stiffness ◽  
Jumping Performance

Abstract Purpose Evidence on training-induced muscle hypertrophy during preadolescence is limited and inconsistent. Possible associations of muscle strength and tendon stiffness with jumping performance are also not investigated. We investigated the thickness and pennation angle of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle (GM), as indicators for potential muscle hypertrophy in preadolescent athletes. Further, we examined the association of triceps surae muscle–tendon properties with jumping performance. Methods Eleven untrained children (9 years) and 21 similar-aged artistic gymnastic athletes participated in the study. Muscle thickness and pennation angle of the GM were measured at rest and muscle strength of the plantar flexors and Achilles tendon stiffness during maximum isometric contractions. Jumping height in squat (SJ) and countermovement jumps (CMJ) was examined using a force plate. We evaluated the influence of normalised muscle strength and tendon stiffness on jumping performance with a linear regression model. Results Muscle thickness and pennation angle did not differ significantly between athletes and non-athletes. In athletes, muscle strength was greater by 25% and jumping heights by 36% (SJ) and 43% (CMJ), but Achilles tendon stiffness did not differ between the two groups. The significant predictor for both jump heights was tendon stiffness in athletes and normalised muscle strength for the CMJ height in non-athletes. Conclusion Long-term artistic gymnastics training during preadolescence seems to be associated with increased muscle strength and jumping performance but not with training-induced muscle hypertrophy or altered tendon stiffness in the plantar flexors. Athletes benefit more from tendon stiffness and non-athletes more from muscle strength for increased jumping performance.

scholarly journals Monitoring Muscle-Tendon Adaptation Over Several Years of Athletic Training and Competition in Elite Track and Field Jumpers

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiros Karamanidis ◽  
Gaspar Epro
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Track And Field ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Overuse Injuries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tendon Stiffness ◽  
Adaptive Changes ◽  
Tendon Strain ◽  
Over Time

Differences in muscle and tendon responsiveness to mechanical stimuli and time courses of adaptive changes may disrupt the interaction of the musculotendinous unit (MTU), increasing the risk for overuse injuries. We monitored training-induced alterations in muscle and tendon biomechanical properties in elite jumpers over 4 years of athletic training to detect potential non-synchronized adaptations within the triceps surae MTU. A combined cross-sectional and longitudinal investigation over 4 years was conducted by analyzing triceps surae MTU mechanical properties in both legs via dynamometry and ultrasonography in 67 elite track and field jumpers and 24 age-matched controls. Fluctuations in muscle and tendon adaptive changes over time were quantified by calculating individual residuals. The cosine similarity of the relative changes of muscle strength and tendon stiffness between sessions served as a measure of uniformity of adaptive changes. Our cross-sectional study was unable to detect clear non-concurrent differences in muscle strength and tendon stiffness in elite jumpers. However, when considering the longitudinal data over several years of training most of the jumpers demonstrated greater fluctuations in muscle strength and tendon stiffness and hence tendon strain compared to controls, irrespective of training period (preparation vs. competition). Moreover, two monitored athletes with chronic Achilles tendinopathy showed in their affected limb lower uniformity in MTU adaptation as well as higher fluctuations in tendon strain over time. Habitual mechanical loading can affect the MTU uniformity in elite jumpers, leading to increased mechanical demand on the tendon over an athletic season and potentially increased risk for overuse injuries.

scholarly journals Relationship Between Muscle Strength, Power and Stiffness and Running Economy in Trained Male Runners

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles L. Dumke ◽  
Christopher M. Pfaffenroth ◽  
Jeffrey M. McBride ◽  
Grant O. McCauley
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Lactate Threshold ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Muscle Stiffness ◽  
Running Economy ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Vo2 Max ◽  
Training Techniques ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Oscillation Method

Purpose:In this study, a comparison was made between muscle strength, power and muscle and tendon (km and kt respectively) stiffness of the triceps surae muscle group and running economy (RE) in trained male runners.Methods:Twelve well-trained male runners (age = 21 + 2.7 y, height = 178.1 ± 7.1 cm, body mass = 66.7 + 3.2 kg, VO2 max = 68.3 + 4.3 mLkg–1min–1, 5000-m time = 15:04 min:s) underwent passive stiffness testing using a free oscillation method. Muscle strength was determined via a maximal isometric squat test and power determined via a maximal countermovement jump (CMJ). On a separate day, subjects performed an incremental treadmill test and their RE, lactate threshold, and VO2 max were determined. Fingertip blood lactate was determined at the end of each 3-min stage. Lactate threshold was defined as a nonlinear increase in lactate accumulation.Results:A statistically significant correlation was found between k m and VO at stage 6 (r = -0.69, P = .01). In addition, statistically significant correlations were observed between CMJ peak force production and VO2 at stage 2 (r = .66, P = .02), stage 3 (r = .70, P = .01), and stage 4 (r = .58, P = .04). No other statistically significant correlations were observed.Conclusion:These data suggest that greater muscle stiffness and less power are associated with greater RE. Future study in this area should focus on determining the mechanisms behind this relationship and how to best apply them to a running population through training techniques.

scholarly journals Effects of triceps surae muscle strength and tendon stiffness on the reactive dynamic stability and adaptability of older female adults during perturbed walking

2018 ◽  
Vol 124 (6) ◽  
pp. 1541-1549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaspar Epro ◽  
Christopher McCrum ◽  
Andreas Mierau ◽  
Michael Leyendecker ◽  
Gert-Peter Brüggemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Motor Response ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Tendon Stiffness ◽  
Gait Stability ◽  
Locomotor System ◽  
Base Of Support

This study aimed to examine whether the triceps surae (TS) muscle-tendon unit (MTU) mechanical properties affect gait stability and its reactive adaptation potential to repeated perturbation exposure in older adults. Thirty-four older adults each experienced eight separate unexpected perturbations during treadmill walking, while a motion capture system was used to determine the margin of stability (MoS) and base of support (BoS). Ankle plantar flexor muscle strength and Achilles tendon (AT) stiffness were analyzed using ultrasonography and dynamometry. A median split and separation boundaries classified the subjects into two groups with GroupStrong ( n = 10) showing higher ankle plantar flexor muscle strength (2.26 ± 0.17 vs. 1.47 ± 0.20 N·m/kg, means ± SD; P < 0.001) and AT stiffness (544 ± 75 vs. 429 ± 86 N/mm; P = 0.004) than GroupWeak ( n = 12). The first perturbation caused a negative ΔMoS (MoS in relation to unperturbed baseline walking) at touchdown of perturbed step (PertR), indicating an unstable position. GroupStrong required four recovery steps to return to ΔMoS zero level, whereas GroupWeak was unable to return to baseline within the analyzed steps. However, after repeated perturbations, both groups increased ΔMoS at touchdown of PertR with a similar magnitude. Significant correlations between ΔBoS and ΔMoS at touchdown of the first recovery step and TS MTU capacities (0.41 < r < 0.57; 0.006 < P < 0.048) were found. We conclude that older adults with TS muscle weakness have a diminished ability to control gait stability during unexpected perturbations, increasing their fall risk, but that degeneration in muscle strength and tendon stiffness may not inhibit the ability of the locomotor system to adapt the reactive motor response to repeated perturbations. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Triceps surae muscle weakness and a more compliant Achilles tendon partly limit older adults’ ability to effectively enlarge the base of support and recover dynamic stability after an unexpected perturbation during walking, increasing their fall risk. However, the degeneration in muscle strength and tendon stiffness may not inhibit the ability of the locomotor system to adapt the reactive motor response to repeated perturbations.

scholarly journals Exercise-Induced Changes in Muscle Size do not Contribute to Exercise-Induced Changes in Muscle Strength

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 987-991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy P. Loenneke ◽  
Samuel L. Buckner ◽  
Scott J. Dankel ◽  
Takashi Abe
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Muscle Size ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Induced Changes

scholarly journals The Ability of Exercise to Mitigate Caloric Restriction-Induced Bone Loss in Older Adults: A Structured Review of RCTs and Narrative Review of Exercise-Induced Changes in Bone Biomarkers

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1250
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Wherry ◽  
Ryan M. Miller ◽  
Sarah H. Jeong ◽  
Kristen M. Beavers
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Bone Loss ◽  
Caloric Restriction ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Areal Bone Mineral Density ◽  
Bone Biomarkers ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Induced Changes

Despite the adverse metabolic and functional consequences of obesity, caloric restriction- (CR) induced weight loss is often contra-indicated in older adults with obesity due to the accompanying loss of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and subsequent increased risk of fracture. Several studies show a positive effect of exercise on aBMD among weight-stable older adults; however, data on the ability of exercise to mitigate bone loss secondary to CR are surprisingly equivocal. The purpose of this review is to provide a focused update of the randomized controlled trial literature assessing the efficacy of exercise as a countermeasure to CR-induced bone loss among older adults. Secondarily, we present data demonstrating the occurrence of exercise-induced changes in bone biomarkers, offering insight into why exercise is not more effective than observed in mitigating CR-induced bone loss.

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