Effects of submaximal and maximal long-lasting contractions on the compliance of vastus lateralis tendon and aponeurosis in vivo.

The present study investigated the effects of submaximal sustained and maximal repetitive contractions on the compliance of human vastus lateralis (VL) tendon and aponeurosis in vivo using two different fatiguing protocols. Twelve male subjects performed three maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) of the knee extensors before and after two fatiguing protocols on a dynamometer. The first fatiguing protocol consisted of a long-lasting sustained isometric knee extension contraction at 25% MVC until failure (inability to hold the defined load).