Observation of the Achilles tendon and Gastrocnemii muscle’s passive stiffness during an incremental running protocol

Details

Supervisors

Nguyen, Anh Phong

Faculty

Faculté des sciences de la motricité

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences de la motricité, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée: kinésithérapie musculo-squelettique

Abstract

Background: Stiffness is a biomechanical parameter which has an influence on running economy and therefore has a role to play in performance. The aim of this study was to observe passive stiffness of the Achilles tendon and gastrocnemii muscle, using myotonometry, during an incremental running protocol. Method: 21 male participants took the TUB2 running protocol on a treadmill. Passive stiffness measurements were assessed on gastrocnemii muscles and Achilles tendon, using MyotonPro. Measurements were conducted before, during, and after the test. Results: Our results have shown that passive stiffness of the triceps surae between pre and post-test, tends to decrease at rest. Moreover, during the test, stiffness significantly increased at low intensity, then, values came back to baseline as the intensity increased in resting position. Conclusion: During an incremental running protocol, both the Achilles tendon and Gastrocnemius muscle stiffness initially increased and then decreased as the percentage of maximal aerobic speed (%MAS) increased, reflecting higher speeds. The observations provide new insights into the behavior of the Triceps surae under loading conditions. This study provides new knowledge that can be used to improve running performance and injury management.