Introduction: Changes in the mechanical properties of the gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit can lead to abnormal biomechanics of lower limbs, which is a risk factor for the development of many diseases. However, fewer studies have explored physiological changes in the gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit stiffness. This study aimed to investigate the age- and sex-related differences in the gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit stiffness.
Methods: The study included 20 older women, 20 young women, and 20 older men. Shear wave elastography (SWE) was used to measure the stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius (MG), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), and Achilles tendon (AT) in all subjects in relaxed, neutral, and standing positions.
Results: The results showed no significant differences in the MG, LG, and AT stiffness between the dominant and non-dominant sides ( > 0.05). The MG, LG, and AT stiffness changed with positions ( < 0.05). The LG stiffness in older women was lower than in older men and young women in any position ( < 0.05). The MG stiffness in older men was greater than that in older women in any position, and age-related changes were found only in the relaxed and standing positions ( < 0.05). The AT stiffness was higher in older men only in the relaxed position ( < 0.05). There was no significant difference in AT stiffness between older and younger women at any position ( > 0.05).
Discussion: These results suggest that the bilateral gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit stiffnesses were similar regardless of sex, age, and position. The stiffness of the gastrocnemius in women decreased with age. However, the effect of aging on AT stiffness was slight. Men have greater gastrocnemius stiffness in older adults.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11586365 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fragi.2024.1455404 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The Structure, Function, and Adaptation of Lower-Limb Aponeuroses: Implications for Myo-Aponeurotic Injury.
Sports Med Open
December 2024
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia.
The aponeurosis is a large fibrous connective tissue structure within and surrounding skeletal muscle and is a critical component of the muscle-tendon unit (MTU). Due to the lack of consensus on terminology and the heterogeneous nature of the aponeurosis between MTUs, there are several questions that remain unanswered. For example, the aponeurosis is often conflated with the free tendon rather than being considered an independent structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDecoupling of muscle-tendon unit and fascicle velocity contributes to the in vivo stretch-shortening cycle effect in the male human triceps surae muscle.
Physiol Rep
December 2024
Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Biomechanics in Sports, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
During the shortening of stretch-shortening cycles (SSCs), muscle force output is enhanced compared with pure shortening (SHO), referred to as the SSC-effect. In general, muscle-tendon unit (MTU), muscle belly, muscle fascicle, and tendon length changes can be decoupled during contraction, which affects force generation and elastic recoil. We researched whether MTU decoupling contributes to the SSC-effect.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFModeling implications of the relationship between active and passive skeletal muscle mechanical properties.
J Biomech
January 2025
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.
It is challenging to obtain in vivo or in situ experimental data from human muscles due to the invasive nature of such measurements. As a result, many investigations of human performance, surgery, or skeletal adaptation are necessarily based on musculoskeletal models. The utility of such models will depend on the question being asked and the extent to which the model is sufficiently accurate to address that question.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComparative study on muscle-tendon stiffness and balance impairment in postmenopausal women: a focus on osteosarcopenia and osteoporosis.
Aging Clin Exp Res
December 2024
Musculoskeletal Imaging Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Background And Aims: This study set out to examine the stiffness of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and Achilles tendon across postmenopausal women with osteosarcopenia (OS), osteoporosis (OP), and normal bone mineral density. Furthermore, we explored the relationship between muscle-tendon stiffness and postural sway during a curve-tracking task in both sagittal (AP) and frontal (ML) planes.
Methods: Seventy-three women volunteered to participate in this study.
Examination of evaluation indicators for spasticity in stroke patients using ultrasound imaging equipment.
J Phys Ther Sci
December 2024
Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Kinjo University, Japan.
[Purpose] To compare the muscle evaluation indices obtained by scanning the spastic muscles of stroke patients between the paretic and non-paretic sides using ultrasound imaging equipment, determine whether any features can be detected, and verify whether the evaluation indices that detect differences are valid for measuring the degree of spasticity. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 23 first-ever stroke patients with motor paralysis in one upper or lower limb, admitted to our hospital between 1 and 6 months after onset. The biceps brachii muscle and medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle were evaluated on both sides using ultrasound imaging equipment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!