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Department of Life Science (Sports Sciences), University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
The purpose of this study was to
examine whether stretching training altered the viscoelastic properties
of human tendon structures in vivo. Eight men performed the stretching
training for 3 wk. Before and after the stretching training, the
elongation of the tendon and aponeurosis of medial gastrocnemius muscle
was directly measured by ultrasonography while the subjects performed
ramp isometric plantar flexion up to the voluntary maximum, followed by
a ramp relaxation. The relationship between the estimated muscle force
(Fm) and tendon elongation (L) during the ascending phase was fitted to a linear regression, the slope of which was defined as
stiffness of tendon structures. The percentage of the area within the
Fm-L loop to the area beneath the curve during ascending phase was calculated as an index representing hysteresis. To assess the
flexibility, the passive torque of the plantar flexor muscles was
measured during the passive stretch from 0° (anatomic position) to
25° of dorsiflexion with a constant velocity of 5°/s. The slope of
the linear portion of the passive torque-angle curve during stretching
was defined as flexibility index. Flexibility index decreased
significantly after stretching training (
13.4 ± 4.6%). On the
other hand, the stretching training produced no significant change in
stiffness but significantly decreased hysteresis from 19.9 ± 11.7 to 12.5 ± 9.5%. The present results suggested that stretching
training affected the viscosity of tendon structures but not the elasticity.
passive torque-angle curve; stiffness; hysteresis; ultrasonography; stretch
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