Relationship between elastic properties of tendon structures and performance in long distance runners

Kubo, Keishi; Miyazaki, Daisuke; Shimoju, Shozo; Tsunoda, Naoya

doi:10.1007/s00421-015-3156-2

Cited by 33 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Moreover, Fletcher et al [8] reported that, although stiffer plantar flexor tendon stiffness in women was correlated with greater running economy, no such significant correlation was observed in men, suggesting that plantar flexor tendon stiffness is insufficient for determining running economy. Furthermore, Kubo et al [18,21] reported that lower plantar flexor tendon stiffness was correlated with a faster personal best 5000-m race time, but running economy was not measured in this study. Thus, the relationship between plantar flexor tendon stiffness and running performance is unclear based on the findings in the previous studies [1,7,18,21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 53%

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Potential Relationship between Passive Plantar Flexor Stiffness and Running Performance

et al. 2017

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The present study aimed to determine the relationship between passive stiffness of the plantar flexors and running performance in endurance runners. Forty-eight well-trained male endurance runners and 24 untrained male control subjects participated in this study. Plantar flexor stiffness during passive dorsiflexion was calculated from the slope of the linear portion of the torque-angle curve. Of the endurance runners included in the present study, running economy in 28 endurance runners was evaluated by measuring energy cost during three 4-min trials (14, 16, and 18 km/h) of submaximal treadmill running. Passive stiffness of the plantar flexors was significantly higher in endurance runners than in untrained subjects. Moreover, passive plantar flexor stiffness in endurance runners was significantly correlated with a personal best 5000-m race time. Furthermore, passive plantar flexor stiffness in endurance runners was significantly correlated with energy cost during submaximal running at 16 km/h and 18 km/h, and a trend towards such significance was observed at 14 km/h. The present findings suggest that stiffer plantar flexors may help achieve better running performance, with greater running economy, in endurance runners. Therefore, in the clinical setting, passive stiffness of the plantar flexors may be a potential parameter for assessing running performance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Several previous studies examined the association between plantar flexor tendon stiffness and running performance [1,8,18,21]. Arampatzis et al [1] determined that greater plantar flexor tendon stiffness measured using ultrasonography is related to greater running economy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Relationship between Passive Plantar Flexor Stiffness and Running Performance

et al. 2017

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“…Stiffness of tendons varies with age, sex, physical activity and fatigue (Kubo et al, 2001b, Kubo et al, 2001a, Kubo et al, 2001c, Reeves, 2006). Interestingly, different types of tendons modulate their stiffness to each other, for example in endurance running, tendons in the knee joints become stiffer and in planter joints softer to guarantee optimal running performance (Kubo et al, 2015). Supplementary Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tenomodulin is Required for Tendon Endurance Running and Collagen I Fibril Adaptation to Mechanical Load

et al. 2017

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Tendons are dense connective tissues that attach muscles to bone with an indispensable role in locomotion because of their intrinsic properties of storing and releasing muscle- generated elastic energy. Tenomodulin (Tnmd) is a well-accepted gene marker for the mature tendon/ligament lineage and its loss-of -function in mice leads to a phenotype with distinct signs of premature aging on tissue and stem/progenitor cell levels. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that Tnmd might be an important factor in the functional performance of tendons. Firstly, we revealed that Tnmd is a mechanosensitive gene and that the C-terminus of the protein co-localize with collagen I-type fibers in the extracellular matrix. Secondly, using an endurance training protocol, we compared Tnmd knockout mice with wild types and showed that Tnmd deficiency leads to significantly inferior running performance that further worsens with training. In these mice, endurance running was hindered due to abnormal response of collagen I cross-linking and proteoglycan genes leading to an inadequate collagen I fiber thickness and elasticity. In sum, our study demonstrates that Tnmd is required for proper tendon tissue adaptation to endurance running and aids in better understanding of the structural-functional relationships of tendon tissues.

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“…Previous studies demonstrated that the mechanical properties of the muscle-tendon complex influenced performance and efficiency during stretch-shortening cycle exercises 8,9) . Therfore, it is possible that the stretchinginduced deficits in stretch-shortening cycle exercises are related to changes in the mechanical properties of the muscle-tendon complex.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of static stretching on active muscle stiffness with and without the stretch reflex

Suzuki

Sugawara

Iizuka

et al. 2020

JPFSM

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The purpose of the present study was to examine acute changes in active muscle stiffness with and without the stretch reflex following static stretching. Before and after static stretching for 10 min, active muscle stiffness was measured according to changes in exerted torque and fascicle length during short-range stretch of faster (peak angular velocity of 250 deg•s-1 ; without the stretch reflex) and slower (peak angular velocity of 100 deg•s-1 ; with the stretch reflex) angular velocities. During the measurement of active muscle stiffness, the electromyographic activities of plantar flexor muscles were recorded and averaged over two different phases: just before (mEMGa) and after (mEMGb) stretch. In addition, the mEMGb/ mEMGa ratio was used to evaluate the effects of stretch reflex. After 10 min of stretching, the mEMGb/mEMGa ratio tended to decrease under the 100 deg•s-1 condition, but not 250 deg•s-1. Under both conditions, active muscle stiffness did not change after 10 min of static stretching. In conclusion, the prolonged static stretching did not affect active muscle stiffness with or without the stretch reflex, but tended to decrease the stretch reflex. In addition, these results imply that active muscle stiffness measured during contractions was not influenced by the stretch reflex.

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Relationship between elastic properties of tendon structures and performance in long distance runners

Cited by 33 publications

References 36 publications

Potential Relationship between Passive Plantar Flexor Stiffness and Running Performance

Potential Relationship between Passive Plantar Flexor Stiffness and Running Performance

Tenomodulin is Required for Tendon Endurance Running and Collagen I Fibril Adaptation to Mechanical Load

Effects of static stretching on active muscle stiffness with and without the stretch reflex

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