Neuromuscular behaviour of the triceps surae muscle-tendon complex during running and jumping.
The present study examined the behaviour of the Achilles tendon (AT) - triceps surae (TS) muscle complex during running and long jump take-off. High AT forces were measured in the push-off phase in running even with very low EMG activity. In the long jump, high rate of stiffness development was a characteristic of the braking phase of the jump. The results suggest that high and well-coordinated activation patterns of the leg extensor muscles during the preactivation and eccentric phases together with high stretching velocities of muscle-tendon complex provide basis for appropriate tendomuscular stiffness. This together with high force at the end of the eccentric phase enables an effective push-off (concentric) phase.
Neuromuscular Research Center, Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland. heikki@maila.jyu.fi
H
H
Kyröläinen
T
T
Finni
J
J
Avela
P V
PV
Komi
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis