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A cross-sectional study on the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon with growth

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to elucidate growth pattern of mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon and to examine if imbalance between growth of bone and muscle–tendon unit occurs during adolescence.

Methods

Fourteen elementary school boys, 30 junior high school boys, 20 high school boys and 15 male adults participated in this study. Based on estimated age at peak height velocity (PHV), junior high school boys were separated into two groups (before or after PHV). An ultrasonography technique was used to determine the length, cross-sectional area, stiffness and Young’s modulus of Achilles tendon. In addition, the maximum strain in “toe region” (strainTP) was determined to describe the balance between growth of bone and muscle–tendon unit.

Results

No group difference was observed in length, cross-sectional area and strainTP among the groups. However, stiffness and Young’s modulus in after PHV groups were significantly higher than those of elementary school boys and before PHV groups (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions

These results indicate that mechanical properties of Achilles tendon change dramatically at and/or around PHV to increased stiffness. The widely believed assumption that muscle–tendon unit is passively stretched due to rapid bone growth in adolescence is not supported.

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Abbreviations

ADT:

Adult

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CSAAT :

Cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon

ESB:

Elementary school boys

HSB:

High school boys

PHVpre :

Junior high school boys before PHV

PHVpost :

Junior high school boys after PHV

LAT :

The Achilles tendon length

MA:

Moment arm

MG:

Medial gastrocnemius

MVC:

Maximum voluntary contraction

PHV:

Peak height velocity

StrainTP :

Strain at transition point

SD:

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by Kozuki Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Policy Management, Department of Human Life Management, Shobi University, 1-1-1, Toyoda-cho, Kawagoe, Saitama, 350-1110, Japan

    Yasuyoshi Mogi

  2. Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan

    Yasuyoshi Mogi

  3. Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan

    Suguru Torii, Yasuo Kawakami & Toshimasa Yanai

Authors
  1. Yasuyoshi Mogi
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  2. Suguru Torii
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  3. Yasuo Kawakami
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  4. Toshimasa Yanai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yasuyoshi Mogi.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by Olivier Seynnes.

Appendix

Appendix

The following hypotheses were tested: (a) the tendon force at the transition point should be a unique value for each leg regardless of the ankle position, (b) the difference between the two ankle positions in the tendon elongation at the transition point should be nearly equal to the passive displacement of distal myotendinous junction of the MG between dorsiflexed ankle position (20°) and neutral position (0°). The theory behind (b) is explained below: the Achilles tendon should be stretched to a greater extent in a dorsiflexed position (20°) than in the neutral position (0°) before the gastrocnemius and soleus were activated. The degree of “un-crimping” of the crimped tendon fibrils while the muscles were resting should, therefore, be greater in the dorsiflexed position. Because the Achilles tendon fibrils were undoubtedly more un-crimped in the resting condition in the dorsiflexed position, the displacement of the distal myotendinous junction induced by a given amount of “isometric” muscle force should be smaller in the dorsiflexed position than in the neutral position and, consequently, the amount of tendon elongation from the resting position to the transition point should be smaller in the dorsiflexed position. Therefore, the difference between the two ankle positions in the amount of tendon elongation at the transition point should be nearly equal to the passive displacement of distal myotendinous junction of the MG between dorsiflexed ankle position (20°) and neutral position (0°); it is not equal, but “nearly” equal because the change in the Achilles’ tendon length induced by the same intensity of muscle contraction should not be the same between the two ankle positions as the muscle length at rest might well be different between the two ankle positions. For the validity test, therefore, an adjustment was made to accommodate this difference by subtracting the passive displacement of distal myotendinous junction of the MG from the length changes in whole muscle–tendon unit due to the changes in ankle joint angle. The length changes in whole muscle–tendon unit due to the changes in ankle joint angle were calculated by previously reported equation (Grieve et al. 1978).

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Mogi, Y., Torii, S., Kawakami, Y. et al. A cross-sectional study on the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon with growth. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 185–194 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3760-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3760-4

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