Mechanical properties of muscle and tendon at high strain rate in sprinters

The aim of the present study was to compare the mechanical properties of muscles and tendons at high strain rates between sprinters and untrained men. Fifteen sprinters and 18 untrained men participated in this study. Active muscle stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was calculated according to changes in the estimated muscle force and fascicle length during fast stretching at five different angular velocities (100, 200, 300, 500, and 600 deg·s(−1)) after submaximal isometric contractions. Stiffness and hysteresis of tendon structures were measured during ramp and ballistic contractions. Active muscle stiffness at 500 deg·s(−1) (p = .070) and 600 deg·s(−1) (p = .041) was greater in sprinters than untrained men, whereas no differences in those at 100, 200, and 300 deg·s(−1) were found between the two groups. There were no differences in stiffness or hysteresis of tendon structures measured during ramp and ballistic contractions between the two groups. These results suggest that, for sprinters, greater active muscle stiffness at a high angular velocity is caused by exercising with a high angular velocity that is typical of their training.