Mechanical and Contractile Properties of Knee Joint Muscles Measured by the Method of Tensiomyography in Differently Trained Men and Women

Abstract

Toskić, LD, Dopsaj, MJ, Marković, MR, Toskić, DR, Ignjatović, AM. Mechanical and contractile properties of knee joint muscles measured by the method of tensiomyography in differently trained men and women. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1532–1539, 2022—The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in mechanical and contractile properties of knee joint flexor and extensor muscles between differently trained men and women, using tensiomyography (TMG). The sample consisted of 159 subjects (84 men and 75 women), who were assigned to one of 5 groups according to the following levels and types of their physical activity: physically inactive, physically active nonathletes, strength and power athletes, endurance athletes, and team sports athletes. Measurements were performed on the following knee flexor and extensor muscles of the dominant leg: rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus. The results showed significant differences in contraction time—Tc (F = 1.911, p = 0.010) and delay time—Td (F = 1.989, p = 0.007) parameters between differently trained men and women, whereas in other TMG parameters, there were no differences between groups. It is indicated that physical activities characteristic of strength and power sports (combat sports and sprint disciplines) could lead to an increased speed of twitch force generation and fast twitch muscle fibers, and that almost any regular, systematic, and planned physical activity leads to increased muscle responsiveness. Obtained results also indicated that TMG parameters do not have enough specific discriminatory power for detecting differences between differently trained young adults.

Use of Tensiomyography in Evaluating Sex-Based Differences in Resistance-Trained Individuals After Plyometric and Isometric Midthigh Pull Postactivation Potentiation Protocols

“…Because of the higher BF Dm, Tc, and Td in women seen in the current study, our sample seems to align most closely with athlete populations. Specifically, examination of the descriptive values from Toskić et al (37) revealed that our sample of self-reported strong men (1RM back squat: body mass $1.75) and women (1RM back squat:body mass $1.5) had BF Dm and Td values that most closely aligned with the strength and power athletes and BF Tc values most similar to the endurance athletes.…”

“…Of the literature in which direct comparisons can be made based on muscle(s) assessed and parameter(s) examined, researchers have assessed physically active nonathlete, physically inactive nonathlete, and athlete populations. Heterogeneity in nonathletes lead to potentially equivocal differences in men and women (16,24,35,37), although researchers have noted women to have significantly higher BF Dm (22,31), Tc (31), Td (37), and Vc (37) in elite basketball, handball, and volleyball athletes. By contrast, Loturco et al (19) primarily found trivial or small sexbased effect sizes in Vc of the BF and RF of elite track and field jumpers and sprinters, although these researchers calculated Vc at multiple electrical amplitudes.…”

Effects of motor imagery training on skeletal muscle contractile properties in sports science students

“… Toskić et al (2022) showed a higher muscle responsiveness, meaning lower values for T d , in physically active compared to physically inactive people. However, the parameter delay time has rarely been investigated in intervention studies.…”

Muscle Contraction Adaptations in Top-Level Karate Athletes Assessed by Tensiomyography

“…Top-level karateka’s agonist muscles (VL, VM and RF) Td, Tc and Tct are found to be different than in the control group. The habituation to ballistic exercises in these athletes has most probably induced specific neuromuscular changes in muscle responsiveness [ 45 ]. The examined VL and VM muscles are extensors in the knee joint [ 46 ], while the RF is an extensor in the knee and also a flexor in the hip joint [ 47 ].…”