title: Musculotendinous stiffness of triceps surae, maximal rate of force development, and vertical jump performance.
abstract: The relationships between ankle plantar flexor musculotendinous stiffness (MTS) and performance in a countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) and maximal rate of torque development (MRTD) were studied in 27 active men. MTS was studied by means of quick releases at 20 (S0.2), 40 (S0.4), 60 (S0.6), and 80% (S0.8) of maximal voluntary torque (T(MVC)). CMJ was not correlated with strength indices but was positively correlated with MRTD/BM, S 0.4/BM. The slope α 2 and intercept β 2 of the torque-stiffness relationships from 40 to 80% T(MVC) were correlated negatively (α 2) and positively (β 2) with CMJ. The different stiffness indices were not correlated with MRTD. The prediction of CMJ was improved by the introduction of MRTD in multiple regressions between CMJ and stiffness. CMJ was also negatively correlated with indices of curvature of the torque-stiffness relationship. The subjects were subdivided in 3 groups in function of CMJ (groups H, M, and L for high, medium, and low performers, resp.). There was a downward curvature of the torque-stiffness relationship at high torques in group H or M and the torque-stiffness regression was linear in group L only. These results suggested that torque-stiffness relationships with a plateau at high torques are more frequent in the best jumpers.
authors.affiliation: CeRSM (EA 2931), Equipe de Physiologie, Biomécanique et Imagerie du Mouvement, UFR STAPS, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, 200 avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France.
authors.forename: Tarak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Driss
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 7338, Biomécanique et Bioingénierie, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, 60205 Compiègne, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2879-3578
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lambertz
authors.affiliation: CeRSM (EA 2931), Equipe de Physiologie, Biomécanique et Imagerie du Mouvement, UFR STAPS, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, 200 avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France.
authors.forename: Majdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rouis
authors.affiliation: CeRSM (EA 2931), Equipe de Physiologie, Biomécanique et Imagerie du Mouvement, UFR STAPS, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, 200 avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France.
authors.forename: Hamdi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jaafar
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie, UFR de Santé, Médecine et Biologie Humaine, Université Paris XIII, rue Marcel Cachin, 93017 Bobigny, France.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vandewalle
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D016552:Ergometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology*; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult