Loading rate and contraction duration effects on <i>in vivo</i> human Achilles tendon mechanical properties

McCrum, Christopher; Oberländer, Kai Daniel; Epro, Gaspar; Krauss, Peter; James, Darren C.; Reeves, Neil D.; Karamanidis, Kiros

doi:10.1111/cpf.12472

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Although Achilles tendon stiffness independently influences the energy cost underlying specific walking patterns in young and older adults, its influence is rather limited. A 25% increase in Achilles tendon stiffness, which is realistic because it is comparable to the standard deviation for estimated Achilles tendon stiffness (Table 1) and to increases in Achilles tendon stiffness following resistance training interventions (McCrum et al, 2018), increased the triceps surae and whole-body energy cost of walking with approximately 7% and 1.5%, respectively. Hence, training interventions should probably not target Achilles tendon stiffness to decrease the energy cost of walking.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Achilles tendon stiffness minimizes the energy cost in simulations of walking in older but not in young adults

Delabastita

Groote

Vanwanseele

2020

Preprint

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Both Achilles tendon stiffness and walking patterns influence the energy cost of walking, but their relative contributions remain unclear. These independent contributions can only be investigated using simulations. We created models for 16 young (24±2 years) and 15 older (75±4 years) subjects, with individualized (using optimal parameter estimations) and generic triceps surae muscle-tendon parameters. We varied Achilles tendon stiffness and calculated the energy cost of walking. Both in young and older adults, Achilles tendon stiffness independently contributed to the energy cost of walking. However, overall, a 25% increase in Achilles tendon stiffness increased the triceps surae and whole-body energy cost of walking with approximately 7% and 1.5%, respectively. Therefore, the influence of Achilles tendon stiffness is rather limited. Walking patterns also independently contributed to the energy cost of walking because the plantarflexor (including, but not limited to the triceps surae) energy cost of walking was lower in older than in young adults. Hence, training interventions should probably rather target specific walking patterns than Achilles tendon stiffness to decrease the energy cost of walking. However, based on the results of previous experimental studies, we expected that the calculated hip extensor and whole-body energy cost of walking would be higher in older than in young adults. This was not confirmed in our results. Future research might therefore assess the contribution of the walking pattern to the energy cost of walking by individualizing maximal isometric muscle force and by using three-dimensional models of muscle contraction.Summary statementAchilles tendon stiffness and walking patterns independently contribute to the energy cost in simulations of walking in young and older adults. The influence of Achilles tendon stiffness is rather small.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Achilles tendon stiffness minimizes the energy cost in simulations of walking in older but not in young adults

Delabastita

Groote

Vanwanseele

2020

Preprint

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“…The theoretical consideration of the current approach is that the sustained method may negate loading rate dependency as it accounts for the phase shift due to the time-dependent viscous properties of the viscoelastic material (Meyers and Chawla, 1999). Regarding this issue, in a recent study (McCrum et al, 2018) loading rate effects up to 25% of the MVC were seen during plantar flexion contractions, which were reduced by the sustained method. The day-to-day reliability of this method to assess AT stiffness has been proven previously (Ackermans et al, 2016), by showing no significant differences between trials and with the mean of the individual ratios of tendon stiffness between days laying close to 1.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Evidence of a Uniform Muscle-Tendon Unit Adaptation in Healthy Elite Track and Field Jumpers: A Cross Sectional Investigation

et al. 2019

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Different adaptive responses to mechanical loading between muscle and tendon can lead to non-uniform biomechanical properties within the muscle-tendon unit. The current study aimed to analyze the mechanical properties of the triceps surae muscle-tendon unit in healthy male and female elite track and field jumpers in order to detect possible inter-limb differences and intra-limb non-uniformities in muscle and tendon adaptation. The triceps surae muscle strength and tendon stiffness were analyzed in both limbs during maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexion contractions using synchronous dynamometry and ultrasonography in sixty-seven healthy young male ( n = 35) and female ( n = 32) elite international level track and field jumpers (high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault). Triceps surae muscle-tendon unit intra-limb uniformity was assessed using between limb symmetry indexes in the muscle strength and tendon stiffness. Independent from sex and jumping discipline the take-off leg showed a significantly higher ( p < 0.05) triceps surae muscle strength and tendon stiffness, suggesting different habitual mechanical loading between legs. However, despite these inter-limb discrepancies no differences were detected in the symmetry indexes of muscle strength (5.9 ± 9.4%) and tendon stiffness (8.1 ± 11.5%). This was accompanied by a significant correlation between the symmetry indexes of muscle strength and tendon stiffness ( r = 0.44; p < 0.01; n = 67). Thus, the current findings give evidence for a uniform muscle-tendon unit adaptation in healthy elite track and field jumpers, which can be reflected as a protective mechanism to maintain its integrity to meet the functional demand.

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“…One study (Csapo et al, 2014 ) used combined MRI and dynamometry to assess tendon stiffness, whereas all other articles employed synchronized ultrasonography and dynamometry (e.g., Mademli and Arampatzis, 2008 ). Despite the large range in percentage differences, which may have been a result of methodological differences affecting the assessment of tendon elongation and stiffness such as imaging method (i.e., Csapo et al, 2014 ), contraction protocol (Kösters et al, 2014 ; McCrum et al, 2017 ) or technical differences between the studies (Finni et al, 2013 ; Seynnes et al, 2015 ), the literature shows a consistent reduction in tendon stiffness with age.…”

Section: Age-related Changes In Human Muscle-tendon Unit Biomechanicamentioning

confidence: 99%

Alterations in Leg Extensor Muscle-Tendon Unit Biomechanical Properties With Ageing and Mechanical Loading

et al. 2018

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Tendons transfer forces produced by muscle to the skeletal system and can therefore have a large influence on movement effectiveness and safety. Tendons are mechanosensitive, meaning that they adapt their material, morphological and hence their mechanical properties in response to mechanical loading. Therefore, unloading due to immobilization or inactivity could lead to changes in tendon mechanical properties. Additionally, ageing may influence tendon biomechanical properties directly, as a result of biological changes in the tendon, and indirectly, due to reduced muscle strength and physical activity. This review aimed to examine age-related differences in human leg extensor (triceps surae and quadriceps femoris) muscle-tendon unit biomechanical properties. Additionally, this review aimed to assess if, and to what extent mechanical loading interventions could counteract these changes in older adults. There appear to be consistent reductions in human triceps surae and quadriceps femoris muscle strength, accompanied by similar reductions in tendon stiffness and elastic modulus with ageing, whereas the effect on tendon cross sectional area is unclear. Therefore, the observed age-related changes in tendon stiffness are predominantly due to changes in tendon material rather than size with age. However, human tendons appear to retain their mechanosensitivity with age, as intervention studies report alterations in tendon biomechanical properties in older adults of similar magnitudes to younger adults over 12–14 weeks of training. Interventions should implement tendon strains corresponding to high mechanical loads (i.e., 80–90% MVC) with repetitive loading for up to 3–4 months to successfully counteract age-related changes in leg extensor muscle-tendon unit biomechanical properties.

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Loading rate and contraction duration effects on in vivo human Achilles tendon mechanical properties

Cited by 20 publications

References 46 publications

Achilles tendon stiffness minimizes the energy cost in simulations of walking in older but not in young adults

Achilles tendon stiffness minimizes the energy cost in simulations of walking in older but not in young adults

Evidence of a Uniform Muscle-Tendon Unit Adaptation in Healthy Elite Track and Field Jumpers: A Cross Sectional Investigation

Alterations in Leg Extensor Muscle-Tendon Unit Biomechanical Properties With Ageing and Mechanical Loading

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