title: Active muscle and tendon stiffness of plantar flexors in sprinters.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare muscle and tendon stiffness under active conditions in sprinters and untrained participants. In total, 14 sprinters and 24 untrained men participated in this study. Active muscle stiffness in the medial gastrocnemius muscle was calculated based on changes in estimated muscle force and fascicle length during fast stretching after submaximal isometric contractions. Tendon stiffness was determined during isometric plantar flexion using ultrasonography. No significant differences were observed in active muscle stiffness between sprinters and untrained men at any torque levels. Furthermore, no significant difference was noted in tendon stiffness between the two groups. These results suggest that muscle and tendon mechanical properties in the plantar flexors under active conditions are similar in sprinters and untrained participants.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Science , The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Keitaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Physical Education , Kokushikan University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Science , The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikebukuro
authors.affiliation: c Sports Science Laboratory , Wako University, Machida , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yata
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Physical Education , Kokushikan University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Masaji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Physical Education , Kokushikan University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsunoda
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000502:physiology; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D019415:Torque; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fascicle; gastrocnemius muscle; human; ultrasonography