Ethnic Differences in Triceps Surae Muscle-Tendon Complex and Walking Economy

McCarthy, John P.; Hunter, Gary R.; Larson‐Meyer, D. Enette; Bamman, Marcas M.; Landers, K A; Newcomer, Bradley R.

doi:10.1519/00124278-200608000-00009

Cited by 7 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…Testing was performed in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (within 10 days of the start of menses). Net oxygen uptakes for the 4.8 km per hour walk on the flat for 33 of these subjects have previously been reported (McCarthy et al 2006). The net oxygen uptakes at 4.8 km per hour on the flat are included in this paper only to show that ethnic differences exist between the 48 EA and 48 AA women examined in this study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…This is consistent with the hypothesis that longer tendons may have more potential for elastic energy storage and reuse (Biewener and Roberts 2000). In addition, it is also suggestive that ethnic differences in tendon length (McCarthy et al 2006) may explain previously reported differences in running (Weston et al 2000) and walking economy (Bamman 1996) between individuals of African versus European descent. On the other hand, these are strictly observational findings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…If, as our previous work suggests (McCarthy et al 2006), tendon length is the main factor mediating differences in walking economy between AAs and EAs the difference in walking economy between AAs and EAs should be reduced when walking up a grade.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…The scans were analyzed by using the adult software (version 1.33). Lower leg length was determined from the skeletal X-ray planogram generated by DXA and the Lunar software as previously described (McCarthy et al 2006). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have previously shown that walking economy is related to Achilles tendon length and that differences in walking economy between African American (AA) and European American (EA) women are reduced when adjusted for the longer Achilles tendons of the AA women (McCarthy et al 2006). This is consistent with the hypothesis that longer tendons may have more potential for elastic energy storage and reuse (Biewener and Roberts 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exercise economy in African American and European American women

et al. 2011

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We have previously shown that Achilles tendon length is related to walking economy on the flat, presumably because of increased stretch–shortening cycle elastic energy savings. In addition, greater walking economy in African American (AA) women compared to European American (EA) women is explained by longer Achilles tendons in AA women. The purposes of this study were to determine whether economy while walking up a grade and during isometric plantar flexion, two tasks expected to produce proportionately less energy savings from elastic savings are different between AA and EA women. We evaluated walking economy at 4.8 km/h at 0 and 2.5% grade in 48 AA and 48 EA premenopausal women. Plantar flexor muscle metabolic economy (force/ATP) was also evaluated using 31 phosphate magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS). AA women walked on the flat more economically (net VO2, AA 8.3 and EA 8.9 ml kg−1 min−1, P = 0.04). No significant ethnic differences were observed while walking up a 2.5% grade or in 31P-MRS determined plantar flexor muscle metabolic economy. These data support our previous study’s suggestion that AA women are more economical while walking on the flat. On the other hand, in activities in which stretch–shortening cycle elastic energy savings would be expected to be reduced (grade walking and isometric force production), no differences in economy during grade walking or isometric force production were observed suggesting that biomechanical, i.e. stretch–shortening cycle elastic energy savings differences rather biochemical differences contribute to the better flat walking economy observed in AA women.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 66%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exercise economy in African American and European American women

et al. 2011

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Muscle morphology and architecture of the medial gastrocnemius between typically developing children with different ancestral backgrounds

Walhain

Declerck

Fat

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Introduction: Muscle ultrasonography is frequently used to improve the understanding of musculoskeletal impairments in children with cerebral palsy. So far, most studies on muscle morphology and architecture have included typically developing children and children with cerebral palsy with similar ancestry, being mainly Caucasian. Less is known about differences in muscle morphology and architecture between children with different ancestral backgrounds. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare muscle morphology and architecture of the medial gastrocnemius and Achilles tendon of Surinamese typically developing children from African, South Asian and Southeast Asian descent. Method: This explorative cohort study included 100 typically developing children identified as Maroon (Ghana, African descent), Hindustani (India, South Asian) or Javanese (Indonesia, Southeast Asian), aged 5 to 10 years. A conventional B-mode 2D ultrasound was used to define anatomical cross-sectional area (aCSA), fascicle length and pennation angle (architectural parameters). The muscle belly length, volume and physiological cross-sectional area (pCSA), as well as the tendon length (morphological parameters) were defined using 3D freehand ultrasound, which combines B-mode 2D ultrasound with 3D motion tracking. Muscle and tendon lengths were normalized to the total muscle tendon unit (MTU) lengths and fascicle lengths to muscle belly lengths, while volume, aCSA and PCSA were normalized to body mass. One-way Anova with post hoc t-tests were used to investigate differences between the ancestral groups. A two-way repeated measures Anova was used to define whether the extensibility of the muscle tendon, belly and fascicle differed between ancestral groups for the three conditions, i.e. when applying 0Nm, 1Nm and 4Nm ankle dorsiflexion torque. Results: The ancestral subgroups included 34 Hindustani, 34 Javanese and 32 Maroon children. Normalized belly length was 11% shorter in Maroon and 7% shorter in Hindustani children compared to Javanese children (p = <0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Normalized fascicle length of Javanese children was 23% longer compared to Maroon and 11% longer compared to Hindustani children (p < 0.001 and p = 0.010, respectively). Normalized muscle volume was significantly higher in Javanese compared to Hindustani children (p = 0.002). The normalized aCSA was higher in Javanese children compared to the Maroon children (p = 0.008), while pCSA was higher for Maroon children compared to the Hindustani children (p = 0.007). The pennation angle of the fascicle with the deeper aponeuroses was larger in Maroon compared to Javanese children (p = 0.015). There were no differences in the extensibility of the muscle belly, tendon and fascicle between ancestral groups. Discussion: Ancestry-specific reference data of the morphology of the medial gastrocnemius and Achilles tendon are needed when investigating altered muscle morphology in children with cerebral palsy. The current study showed differences in morphology (muscle belly-, tendon length and muscle volume, aCSA) and architecture (pCSA, fascicle length and deeper pennation angle) between children with different ancestry. These differences were most pronounced for Javanese compared to Maroon or Hindustani children. Future studies should report the ancestral background when describing muscle morphology and architecture of children and ancestral specifications in normative databases should be included.

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Muscle metabolic function and free-living physical activity

Hunter¹,

Larson‐Meyer²,

Sirikul³

et al. 2006

Journal of Applied Physiology

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We have previously shown that muscle metabolic function measured during exercise is related to exercise performance and subsequent 1-yr weight gain. Because it is well established that physical activity is important in weight maintenance, we examined muscle function relationships with free-living energy expenditure and physical activity. Subjects were 71 premenopausal black and white women. Muscle metabolism was evaluated by (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy during 90-s isometric plantar flexion contractions (45% maximum). Free-living energy expenditure (TEE) was measured using doubly labeled water, activity-related energy expenditure (AEE) was calculated as 0.9 x TEE - sleeping energy expenditure from room calorimetry, and free-living physical activity (ARTE) was calculated by dividing AEE by energy cost of standard physical activities. At the end of exercise, anaerobic glycolytic rate (ANGLY) and muscle concentration of phosphomonoesters (PME) were negatively related to TEE, AEE, and ARTE (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that both PME (partial r = -0.29, <0.02) and ANGLY (partial r = -0.24, P < 0.04) were independently related to ARTE. PME, primarily glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate, was significantly related to ratings of perceived exertion (r = 0.21, P < or = 0.05) during a maximal treadmill test. PME was not related to ARTE after inclusion of RPE in the multiple regression model, suggesting that PME may be obtaining its relationship with ARTE through an increased perception of effort during physical activity. In conclusion, physically inactive individuals tend to be more dependent on anaerobic glycolysis during exercise while relying on a glycolytic pathway that may not be functioning optimally.

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Ethnic Differences in Triceps Surae Muscle-Tendon Complex and Walking Economy

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Exercise economy in African American and European American women

Exercise economy in African American and European American women

Muscle morphology and architecture of the medial gastrocnemius between typically developing children with different ancestral backgrounds

Muscle metabolic function and free-living physical activity

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