Lower motor unit discharge rates in gastrocnemius lateralis, but not in gastrocnemius medialis or soleus, in runners with Achilles tendinopathy: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES: Deficits in muscle performance could be a consequence of a reduced ability of a motor neuron to increase the rate in which it discharges. This study aimed to investigate motor unit (MU) discharge properties of each triceps surae muscle (TS) and TS torque steadiness during submaximal intensities in runners with Achilles tendinopathy (AT). METHODS: We recruited runners with (n = 12) and without (n = 13) mid-portion AT. MU discharge rate was analysed for each of the TS muscles, using high-density surface electromyography during 10 and 20% isometric plantar flexor contractions. RESULTS: MU mean discharge rate was lower in the gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) in AT compared to controls. In AT, GL MU mean discharge rate did not increase as torque increased from 10% peak torque, 8.24 pps (95% CI 7.08 to 9.41) to 20%, 8.52 pps (7.41 to 9.63, p = 0.540); however, in controls, MU discharge rate increased as torque increased from 10%, 8.39 pps (7.25–9.53) to 20%, 10.07 pps (8.89–11.25, p < 0.001). There were no between-group difference in gastrocnemius medialis (GM) or soleus (SOL) MU discharge rates. We found no between-group differences in coefficient of variation of MU discharge rate in any of the TS muscles nor in TS torque steadiness. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that runners with AT may have a lower neural drive to GL, failing to increase MU discharge rate to adjust for the increase in torque demand. Further research is needed to understand how interventions focussing on increasing neural drive to GL would affect muscle function in runners with AT. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00421-022-05089-w.