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Does resistance training increase aponeurosis width? The current results and future tasks

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Abstract

Purpose

The aponeurosis, a sheet of fibrous tissue, is the deep and superficial fascia where muscle fibers attach in pennate muscles. It is quite possible that the aponeurosis size increases in response to resistance training-induced fiber hypertrophy due to an increase in connection area. As a result, it leads to an increase in anatomical muscle cross-sectional area. However, attention has not been paid to aponeurosis area changes. This review sought to determine whether muscle hypertrophy changes aponeurosis width following short-term resistance training using an equation we modified [post/pre changes in aponeurosis width (AWpost/pre) = post/pre changes in anatomical cross-sectional area (CSApost/pre) ÷ post/pre changes in pennation angle (PApost/pre) ÷ post/pre changes in fascicle length (FLpost/pre)].

Methods

A search using two electronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) was conducted. Nine studies measured CSApost/pre, PApost/pre, and FLpost/pre of the vastus lateralis muscle by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

There was a statistically significant 2.73 [95% CI 1.11, 4.36; p = 0.009] cm2 increase in CSApost/pre along with a statistically significant 1.21° [95% CI 0.44, 1.97; p = 0.002] increase in PApost/pre and a statistically significant 0.36 cm [95% CI 0.19, 0.54; p = 0.0002] increase in FLpost/pre. These results yield an estimated 1% reduction in aponeurosis width.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that while muscle CSA, pennation angle, and fascicle length all increase following short-term resistance training, the aponeurosis width is not altered.

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Abbreviations

ACSA:

Anatomical cross-sectional area

AW:

Aponeurosis width

CI:

Confidential interval

CSA:

Cross-sectional area

FL:

Fascicle length

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

PA:

Pennation angle

SD:

Standard deviation

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Funding

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this articles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Exercise Science, & Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, Turner Center, University, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA

    Takashi Abe, Robert W. Spitz, Vickie Wong, Zachary W. Bell & Jeremy P. Loenneke

  2. Department of Health and Exercise Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA

    Scott Dankel

  3. Exercise Science Program, College of Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Samuel L. Buckner

  4. Faculty of Physical Education and Dance, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, 74690-900, Brazil

    Ricardo B. Viana

Authors
  1. Takashi Abe
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  2. Scott Dankel
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  3. Robert W. Spitz
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  4. Samuel L. Buckner
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  5. Vickie Wong
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  6. Ricardo B. Viana
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  7. Zachary W. Bell
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  8. Jeremy P. Loenneke
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Contributions

Conceived and designed the study: TA, SJD, RWS, SLB, VW, RBV, ZWB and JPL. Searched and analyzed the articles: TA, SJD and JPL. Wrote the manuscript: TA. Reviewed and critically revised the manuscript: SJD, RWS, SLB, VW, RBV, ZWB and JPL. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takashi Abe.

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Conflict of interest

Takashi Abe, Scott Dankel, Robert Spitz, Samuel Buckner, Vickie Wong, Ricardo Viana, Zachary Bell, and Jeremy Loenneke declare that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this review.

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Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

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Abe, T., Dankel, S., Spitz, R.W. et al. Does resistance training increase aponeurosis width? The current results and future tasks. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 1489–1494 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04400-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04400-x

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