Impact of fatigue on passive myofascial stiffness and active stiffness in recreational runners A cross-sectional study

Details

Supervisors

Nguyen Anhphong

Faculty

Faculté des sciences de la motricité

Degree label

Master [60] en kinésithérapie et réadaptation

Abstract

Introduction: The First aim of this study is to examine the impact of fatigue induced by a standardized running protocol on the passive myofascial stiffness and active stiffness (Kleg) of the lower limb’s different structures in healthy occasional runners. Method: a sample of 26 healthy runners (7female and 19 male) were analyzed during a standardized running protocol in order to reach a state of fatigue. Myoton-PRO device and Runmatic application were used to calculate passive myofascial stiffness, active stiffness (Kleg) and spatiotemporal gait characteristics of the lower limb. Results and Disscussion: The stiffness of Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Quadricipital Tendon and Biceps Femoris significantly decreased (P<0,05). Almost all elasticity’s muscle measured has increased (p<0,05). The active stiffness decreased significantly (P<0.001). A pearson correlation test showed that there was no linear correlation between the passive myofascial stiffness of the different structures and active stiffness of the lower limb. There was only a moderate correlation between the elasticity of the Rectus Femoris, the stiffness of the Vastus Medialis and the active stiffness of both legs. Another Pearson correlation test showed that there was a correlation between the data measured with the myotonPRO and the runners' anthropometric data. Conclusion: This study highlighted the impact of fatigue due to a standardized running protocol on passive myofascial stiffness and Kleg of the lower limb in recreational runners by showing a decrease in their values after the protocol and moderate correlation between each other.