Human ankle plantar flexor muscle-tendon mechanics and energetics during maximum acceleration sprinting

Adrian Lai, Anthony G. Schache, Nicholas A.T. Brown, Marcus G. Pandy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tendon elastic strain energy is the dominant contributor to muscle-tendon work during steady-state running. Does this behaviour also occur for sprint accelerations? We used experimental data and computational modelling to quantify muscle fascicle work and tendon elastic strain energy for the human ankle plantar flexors (specifically soleus and medial gastrocnemius) for multiple foot contacts of a maximal sprint as well as for running at a steady-state speed. Positivework done by the soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicles decreased incrementally throughout the maximal sprint and both muscles performed more work for the first foot contact of the maximal sprint (FC1) compared with steady-state running at 5 m s-1 (SS5). However, the differences in tendon strain energy for bothmuscleswere negligible throughout the maximal sprint and when comparing FC1 to SS5. Consequently, the contribution ofmuscle fasciclework to stored tendon elastic strain energywas greater for FC1 compared with subsequent foot contacts of the maximal sprint and compared with SS5. We conclude that tendon elastic strain energy in the ankle plantar flexors is just as vital at the start of a maximal sprint as it is at the end, and as it is for running at a constant speed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number20160391
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of the Royal Society Interface
Volume13
Issue number121
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2016
Externally publishedYes

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