Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics (한국운동역학회지)

Korean Society of Applied Biomechanics (한국운동역학회)
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Relationship between Muscle Strength and Tendon Stiffness of the Ankle Plantarflexors and Its functional Consequence

인체 족저굴곡근의 근력과 아킬레스 건의 경도, 기능적 능력 간 상관관계 분석

  • Han, Seong-Won (Department of Physical Education, Graduate School of Yonsei University) ;
  • Lee, Dae-Yeon (Department of Silver Industrial Engineering, College of Future Human Resource Development, Kangnam University) ;
  • Lee, Hae-Dong (Department of Physical Education, College of Education Science, Yonsei University)
  • 한성원 (연세대학교 일반대학원 체육학과) ;
  • 이대연 (강남대학교 미래인재개발대학 실버산업공학과) ;
  • 이해동 (연세대학교 교육과학대학 체육교육학과)
  • Received : 2014.01.30
  • Accepted : 2014.03.17
  • Published : 2014.03.31
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Abstract

Tendon elasticity is an important factor affecting muscle function and thus human movements. It has been reported that the mechanical properties of tendon are adaptable to external loading condition. Based on the adaptability of muscle and tendon to external loading conditions, one can assume that there might be an optimum ratio between muscle strength and tendon stiffness. The present study aimed to investigate whether there is correlation between plantar flexor muscle strength and stiffness of the achilles tendon (AT). Twenty two male subjects (age: $23.2{\pm}1.5yrs$, height: $175.5{\pm}6.2cm$, weight: $75.4{\pm}9.8kg$) performed maximum voluntary isometric plantarflexion on a custom-built dynamometer and muscle-tendon junction of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was simultaneously monitored using a real-time ultrasound imaging machine. The averages of muscle force and tendon stiffness were $366.38{\pm}79.37N$, $35.34{\pm}10.42N/mm$, respectively. Significant positive correlation was observed between muscle strength and tendon stiffness (r=0.8507), indicating that the muscle force is proportional to tendon stiffness. The results might have been used in computational modeling and criterion of training progress level in the fields of training and rehabilitation.

Keywords

References

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