No abstract

Background: The tensiomyography assessment offers information, in the time domain, regarding the following parameters: maximal radial deformation or displacement of the muscle belly, contraction time, reaction time, sustain time and relaxation time. The aim of this study is to provide information about muscle stiffness, the mechanic and contractile properties using the TMG muscles after 4 months rehabilitation process gymnast. Material/Methods: Four muscles were chosen on both lateral sides involved in artistic gymnastics performance: biceps femoris, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris. The testing sample in this study was taken from the Croatian Republic’s senior representative who won third place 2012 and eighth place 2015 in the floor routine at the ECh. Results: The testing and measuring took place after the subject injured the lumbar region of the spinal cord and after a four-month prevention exercise program. After the first two stages of measuring, the differences can be found in: BF: -7%; ES: +17%; GM: -8%; RF: +11%. Generally speaking, a dependent t-test did not reveal significant differences in between the first and second measurement point (t = 1.941, df = 39, P < 0.059). Conclusions: This approach can be used to investigate top athletes who are in the process of training for muscle recovery as a result of skeletal muscle injury.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the normative values of muscles&rsquo; contractile properties, lateral symmetry, and the impact of aging on muscle contractility in gymnastics. Materials and Methods: A survey of 81 athletes from different disciplines was undertaken: MAG (n = 26), WAG (n = 28), and RG (n = 27). The athletes&rsquo; average age was 15.41 &plusmn; 5.03 years. We try to establish the normative values for contraction time (muscle pairs) in gymnastics for Slovenian athletes for ten skeletal muscles. Results: Athletes&rsquo; age affects contractility in a negative way. Differences between the duration of contractility and age were found in all disciplines: m. BF (r = 0.48, p &lt; 0.001), m. TB (r = 0.37, p &lt; 0.013), m. ES (r = 0.17, p &lt; 0.025), m. VL (r = 0.36, p &lt; 0.00) and m. VM (r = 0.40, p &lt; 0.000) at a statistical significance of p &lt; 0.05. Conclusions: A comparison between the left and right sides shows little asymmetry in WAG and that the occurrence of injuries is in the middle range. In RG we see a bigger deviation, which could trigger the emergence of pain or injury in m. BF (13%) and m. GL (14.5%), but in MAG the deviation is greater in m. BB (12%), m. BF (11%) and m. GM (13%).

This study examined the association between muscles’ contractile properties and jumping skill performance in gymnasts. Thirty-nine internationally experienced female (56%) and male (44%) gymnasts participated in the study. Radial displacement and contraction time of the biceps femoris, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and erector spinae were collected to assess muscles’ contractile characteristics using tensiomyography (TMG). Additionally, peak power, jump height, vertical take-off velocity, and vertical peak force in squat jump, countermovement jump, and drop jump were recorded. The TMG parameters did not predict jumping performance in our sample of female and male gymnasts. Associations between TMG parameters and jumping performance are discussed in the article.