title: Passive properties of the muscle-tendon unit: the influence of muscle cross-sectional area.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships among the passive properties of the muscle-tendon unit and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). Our findings indicated significant relationships between muscle CSA and passive stiffness (P < 0.05; r = 0.830) and muscle CSA and passive energy absorption (P < 0.05; r = 0.765). Since passive stiffness and the ability to absorb passive energy decreases with many diseases, these findings may support the need to maintain or increase muscle CSA.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, 1401 Asp Avenue, HHC Room 12, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-6081, USA.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Trent J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Herda
authors.forename: Pablo B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Defreitas
authors.forename: Travis W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stout
authors.forename: Joel T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cramer
mesh_terms: D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult