Abstract
Purpose
Limited information is available on the association between muscle material properties and sprint performance. We aimed to identify whether and how the elasticity of passive and active muscle of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) is related to sprint performance.
Methods
MG shear wave speed was measured under passive and active (20%, 50%, 80% of maximal voluntary contraction [MVC]) conditions, with ultrasound shear wave elastography, in 18 male sprinters. Passive and active ankle joint stiffness was assessed by applying a short-range fast stretch during 0%, 20%, 50%, and 80% MVC of plantar flexion. Additionally, rate of torque development (RTD) during explosive plantar flexion was measured.
Results
Passive and active MG shear wave speed was negatively correlated with 100-m race time. Passive MG shear wave speed was positively correlated with RTD, and RTD was negatively correlated with 100-m race time. MG shear wave speed at 50% and 80% MVC showed a positive correlation with ankle joint stiffness at the corresponding contraction level, and ankle joint stiffness at 50% and 80% MVC showed negative correlations with 100-m race time. These correlations were significant even after controlling for MVC torque.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that passive and active muscle elasticity of plantar flexor is important to achieve superior sprint performance. Specifically, high elasticity of passive MG could be related to superior sprint performance through high explosive torque production. In contrast, high elasticity of active MG at moderate-to-high intensity is likely related to high sprint performance through high ankle joint stiffness.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- MG :
-
Medial gastrocnemius
- MTU :
-
Muscle–tendon unit
- MVC :
-
Maximal voluntary contraction
- RTD :
-
Rate of torque development
- SWE :
-
Shear wave elastography
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This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant number JP19H04005.
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Conceptualization: KY, KI, NM; methodology; NM; formal analysis and investigation: NM, KI; project administration: KY, NM; supervision: NM, KY; writing—original draft: KY, NM; writing—review and editing: KY, KI, NM; funding acquisition: NM. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Juntendo University (G31-33). The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.
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The procedure, purpose, and risks associated with this study were explained to the participants, and written informed consent was obtained.
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Communicated by Jean - Rene Lacour.
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Yamazaki, K., Inoue, K. & Miyamoto, N. Passive and active muscle elasticity of medial gastrocnemius is related to performance in sprinters. Eur J Appl Physiol 122, 447–457 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04848-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04848-5