Aging and the effects of a half marathon on Achilles tendon force-elongation relationship.
Eur J Appl Physiol
; 116(11-12): 2281-2292, 2016 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27695979
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
We aimed to determine whether there are different changes in Achilles tendon (AT) mechanical properties in middle-aged, compared to younger runners that might indicate that tendon fatigue, induced by long-distance running, is age-dependent.METHODS:
27 middle-aged (50-67 years) and 22 younger (21-29 years) participants ran a 21 km route at their own pace (mean and SD old 3.1 ± 0.3 m s-1; young 3.6 ± 0.5 m s-1). We tested for changes in the AT force-elongation relationship using dynamometry and ultrasonography during isometric voluntary ankle plantarflexion ramp contractions, conducted 20-28 h pre-run, immediately pre-run, immediately post-run and 20-28 h post-run. Stride frequency and number were examined to estimate cyclic tensile loading characteristics of the tendon during running.RESULTS:
Muscle strength decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups immediately post-run (old 17 %; young 11 %) and recovered to baseline within 20-28 h post-run. AT stiffness did not change for the younger adults, whereas the middle-aged adults showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in AT stiffness (22 %). However, tendon stiffness recovered to baseline 20-28 h post-run. Middle-aged, compared to young adults, demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) greater stride frequency and number, but no correlations with tendon fatigue changes were determined (R 2 ≤ 0.038).CONCLUSIONS:
The results suggest that the plasticity of the AT in response to short-term mechanical loading may be age dependent and that the AT length-tension properties of middle-aged runners may be more vulnerable to change following running compared to younger athletes. However, the observed AT changes in the middle-aged runners dissipated within 20-28 h post-run, suggesting that a tendon viscoelastic recovery mechanism may occur in vivo.Palavras-chave
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Resistência Física
/
Corrida
/
Tendão do Calcâneo
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Envelhecimento
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Contração Isométrica
/
Modelos Biológicos
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur J Appl Physiol
Assunto da revista:
FISIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha