Gender differences in both active and passive parts of the plantar flexors series elastic component stiffness and geometrical parameters of the muscle-tendon complex.
Men are reportedly at higher risk of plantar flexor muscle injury and Achilles tendon ruptures than women. Biomechanical parameters are thought to play a role in the higher frequency of injury to males. One parameter is the stiffness of tissues; a stiff tissue cannot absorb sufficient energy with loading, and subsequently may be more likely to be injured. Thus, our purpose was to investigate the gender difference in the geometrical parameters of plantar flexor's muscle-tendon complex and the stiffness of both active and passive parts of the series elastic component (S(SEC1) and S(SEC2) , respectively). Using the alpha method on data obtained from quick stretches to the plantar flexors performed during isometric contractions, S(SEC1) and S(SEC2) were assessed. Plantar flexor muscles and Achilles tendon cross-sectional areas (CSA(TS) and CSA(AT) , respectively) were determined in young healthy men (n = 49) and women (n = 31). The findings showed that S(SEC2) was higher in men (p < 0.001), but this difference was not apparent when S(SEC2) was normalized to CSA(AT) (p > 0.05). In contrast, S(SEC1) was lower in men (p < 0.001) and remained so after normalization to CSA(TS) . Higher joint stiffness observed in men was notably influenced by lever arm length. Thus, the results of this study have implications for performance and injury.
Laboratoire Motricité, Interactions, Performance-EA 4334, UFR STAPS, Université de Nantes, 25 bis Bd Guy Mollet, 44 322 Nantes cedex 3, France.
Alexandre
A
Fouré
Christophe
C
Cornu
Peter J
PJ
McNair
Antoine
A
Nordez
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics