Loading...
Tendon elastic strain energy in the human ankle plantar-flexors and its role with increased running speed
Lai, Adrian K. M. Schache, Anthony Lin, Yi-Chung Pandy, Marcus
Lai, Adrian K. M.
Schache, Anthony
Lin, Yi-Chung
Pandy, Marcus
Abstract
The human ankle plantar-flexors, the soleus and gastrocnemius, utilize tendon elastic strain energy to reduce muscle fiber work and optimize contractile conditions during running. However, studies to date have considered only slow to moderate running speeds up to 5 m s−1 . Little is known about how the human ankle plantar-flexors utilize tendon elastic strain energy as running speed is advanced towards maximum sprinting. We used data obtained from gait experiments in conjunction with musculoskeletal modeling and optimization techniques to calculate muscle–tendon unit (MTU) work, tendon elastic strain energy and muscle fiber work for the ankle plantar-flexors as participants ran at five discrete steady-state speeds ranging from jogging (~2 m s−1 ) to sprinting (≥8 m s−1 ). As running speed progressed from jogging to sprinting, the contribution of tendon elastic strain energy to the positive work generated by the MTU increased from 53% to 74% for the soleus and from 62% to 75% for the gastrocnemius. This increase was facilitated by greater muscle activation and the relatively isometric behavior of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscle fibers. Both of these characteristics enhanced tendon stretch and recoil, which contributed to the bulk of the change in MTU length. Our results suggest that as steady-state running speed is advanced towards maximum sprinting, the human ankle plantar-flexors continue to prioritize the storage and recovery of tendon elastic strain energy over muscle fiber work.
Keywords
Achilles tendon strain, Muscle fiber, Muscle force, Human gait, Sprinting, Efficiency, Musculoskeletal modeling
Date
2014
Type
Journal article
Journal
Book
Volume
217
Issue
17
Page Range
3159-3168
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Files
Lin_2014_Tendon_elastic_strain_energy_in_the.pdf
Adobe PDF, 755.62 KB
All rights reserved
- Embargoed until 9999-12-31
SM_Lin_2014_Tendon_elastic_strain_energy_in_the.pdf
Adobe PDF, 146.57 KB
All rights reserved
- Embargoed until 9999-12-31
Relation URI
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled
Controlled
Controlled
Notes
© 2014. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd