Development of Muscle-Tendon Adaptation in Preadolescent Gymnasts and Untrained Peers: A 12-Month Longitudinal Study.

Purpose: The current study investigated the effects of long-term athletic training on the development of the triceps surae muscle-tendon unit in preadolescence.

Methods: Eleven preadolescent untrained children and a group of 21 artistic gymnastics athletes of similar age (9 ± 1.7 yr) and maturity (Tanner stages I and II) participated in the study.

Effects of long-term athletic training on muscle morphology and tendon stiffness in preadolescence: association with jump performance.

Purpose: Evidence on training-induced muscle hypertrophy during preadolescence is limited and inconsistent. Possible associations of muscle strength and tendon stiffness with jumping performance are also not investigated. We investigated the thickness and pennation angle of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle (GM), as indicators for potential muscle hypertrophy in preadolescent athletes.

Triceps Surae Muscle-Tendon Unit Properties in Preadolescent Children: A Comparison of Artistic Gymnastic Athletes and Non-athletes.

Knowledge regarding the effects of athletic training on the properties of muscle and tendon in preadolescent children is scarce. The current study compared Achilles tendon stiffness, plantar flexor muscle strength and vertical jumping performance of preadolescent athletes and non-athletes to provide insight into the potential effects of systematic athletic training. Twenty-one preadolescent artistic gymnastic athletes (9.