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Passive mechanical properties of human gastrocnemius muscle-tendon units
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research volume 5, Article number: I3 (2012)
Background
The passive mechanical properties of skeletal muscle-tendon units are important because they determine the amount of motion available at joints. Human gastrocnemius muscle-tendon units are of particular interest because this muscle is prone to develop contractures, may have a role in lower limb overuse injuries, and is a common site of muscle tears.
This workshop provides an introduction to what is known of the passive properties of skeletal muscle-tendon units, focussing on human gastrocnemius muscle-tendon units. The workshop will also provide an introduction to the theory and practice of measuring passive mechanical properties of human gastrocnemius muscle-tendon units in vivo.
Materials and methods
The mechanical properties of muscle-tendon units have been investigated most frequently using in vitro preparations. Testing of elastic properties most often utilises quasi-static protocols. Dynamic protocols have also been used, particularly in studies that seek also to determine viscous properties.
Several methods have been developed for testing the mechanical properties (usually elastic or pseudo-elastic properties) of human muscle-tendon units in vivo. Changes in length of human gastrocnemius muscle-tendon units may be estimated from changes in ankle and knee angles if moment arms are known. Fascicle lengths can be measured with ultrasound imaging or MRI. Recently methods have been developed for measuring sarcomere lengths using invasive and minimally invasive techniques. Achilles tendon force can be measured using invasive methods such as fibre optic transducers. The length-tension properties of the Achilles tendon can be estimated using non-invasive methods during isometric contractions.
This workshop focuses on a method developed by our research team for non-invasive measurement of the passive length-tension properties of human gastrocnemius muscle-tendon units [1], as well as length-tension properties of muscle fascicles and tendons [2]. The method involves measuring ankle stiffness at a range of knee angles.
Conclusions
A range of methods is available for measuring the mechanical properties of human gastrocnemius muscle-tendon units in vivo.
References
- 1.
Hoang PD, Gorman RB, Todd G, Gandevia SC, Herbert RD: A new method for measuring passive length-tension properties of human gastrocnemius muscle in vivo. J Biomech. 2005, 38: 1333-1341. 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.05.046.
- 2.
Hoang PD, Herbert RD, Todd G, Gorman RB, Gandevia SC: Passive mechanical properties of human gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit, muscle fascicles and tendon in vivo. J Exp Biol. 2007, 210: 4159-4168. 10.1242/jeb.002204.
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This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Herbert, R.D., Diong, J. Passive mechanical properties of human gastrocnemius muscle-tendon units. J Foot Ankle Res 5, I3 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-5-S1-I3
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