Top

Published in:

01-12-2016 | Original Article

Aging and the effects of a half marathon on Achilles tendon force–elongation relationship

Authors: Thijs Maria Anne Ackermans, Gaspar Epro, Christopher McCrum, Kai Daniel Oberländer, Frank Suhr, Maarten Robert Drost, Kenneth Meijer, Kiros Karamanidis

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 11-12/2016

Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to determine whether there are different changes in Achilles tendon (AT) mechanical properties in middle-aged, compared to younger runners that might indicate that tendon fatigue, induced by long-distance running, is age-dependent.

Methods

27 middle-aged (50–67 years) and 22 younger (21–29 years) participants ran a 21 km route at their own pace (mean and SD: old: 3.1 ± 0.3 m s⁻¹; young: 3.6 ± 0.5 m s⁻¹). We tested for changes in the AT force–elongation relationship using dynamometry and ultrasonography during isometric voluntary ankle plantarflexion ramp contractions, conducted 20–28 h pre-run, immediately pre-run, immediately post-run and 20–28 h post-run. Stride frequency and number were examined to estimate cyclic tensile loading characteristics of the tendon during running.

Results

Muscle strength decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups immediately post-run (old: 17 %; young: 11 %) and recovered to baseline within 20–28 h post-run. AT stiffness did not change for the younger adults, whereas the middle-aged adults showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in AT stiffness (22 %). However, tendon stiffness recovered to baseline 20–28 h post-run. Middle-aged, compared to young adults, demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) greater stride frequency and number, but no correlations with tendon fatigue changes were determined (R ² ≤ 0.038).

Conclusions

The results suggest that the plasticity of the AT in response to short-term mechanical loading may be age dependent and that the AT length–tension properties of middle-aged runners may be more vulnerable to change following running compared to younger athletes. However, the observed AT changes in the middle-aged runners dissipated within 20–28 h post-run, suggesting that a tendon viscoelastic recovery mechanism may occur in vivo.

Available only for authorised users

Arampatzis A, Stafilidis S, DeMonte G, Karamanidis K, Morey-Klapsing G, Brüggemann GP (2005) Strain and elongation of the human gastrocnemius tendon and aponeurosis during maximal plantarflexion effort. J Biomech 38:833–841CrossRefPubMed

Arampatzis A, Karamanidis K, Stafilidis S, Morey-Klapsing G, DeMonte G, Brüggemann GP (2006) Effect of different ankle-and knee-joint positions on gastrocnemius medialis fascicle length and EMG activity during isometric plantar flexion. J Biomech 39:1891–1902CrossRefPubMed

Beaumont PWR (1989) The failure of fibre composites: an overview. J Strain Anal Eng 24:189–205CrossRef

Biewener AA, Roberts TJ (2000) Muscle and tendon contributions to force, work, and elastic energy savings: a comparative perspective. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 28:99–107PubMed

Bjornsson HC, Norlin R, Johansson K, Adolfsson LE (2011) The influence of age, delay of repair, and tendon involvement in acute rotator cuff tears: structural and clinical outcomes after repair of 42 shoulders. Acta Orthop 82:187–192CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Brunet ME, Cook SD, Brinker MR, Dickinson JA (1990) A survey of running injuries in 1505 competitive and recreational runners. J Sport Med Phys Fit 30:307–315

Clement DB, Taunton JE, Smart GW (1984) Achilles tendinitis and peritendinitis: etiology and treatment. Am J Sport Med 12:179–184CrossRef

Dahners LE, Banes AJ, Burridge KW (1986) The relationship of actin to ligament contraction. Clin Orthop Relat Res 210:246–251

Farris DJ, Trewartha G, McGuigan MP (2012) The effects of a 30-min run on the mechanics of the human Achilles tendon. Eur J Appl Physiol 112:653–660CrossRefPubMed

Farris DJ, Trewartha G, McGuigan MP, Lichtwark GA (2013) Differential strain patterns of the human Achilles tendon determined in vivo with freehand three-dimensional ultrasound imaging. J Exp Biol 216:594–600CrossRefPubMed

Fung DT, Wang VM, Andarawis-Puri N et al (2010) Early response to tendon fatigue damage accumulation in a novel in vivo model. J Biomech 43:274–279CrossRefPubMed

Gardner K, Lavagnino M, Egerbacher M, Arnoczky SP (2012) Reestablishment of cytoskeletal tensional homeostasis in lax tendons occurs through an actin mediated cellular contraction of the extracellular matrix. J Orthop Res 30:1695–1701CrossRefPubMed

Huttunen TT, Kannus P, Rolf C, Felländer-Tsai L, Mattila VM (2014) Acute achilles tendon ruptures incidence of injury and surgery in Sweden between 2001 and 2012. Am J Sports Med 42:2419–2423CrossRef

Jozsa L, Kvist M, Bálint BJ et al (1989) The role of recreational sport activity in Achilles tendon rupture. A clinical, pathoanatomical, and sociological study of 292 cases. Am J Sports Med 17:338–343CrossRefPubMed

Karamanidis K, Arampatzis A (2005) Mechanical and morphological properties of different muscle–tendon units in the lower extremity and running mechanics: effect of aging and physical activity. J Exp Biol 208:3907–3923CrossRefPubMed

Karamanidis K, Stafilidis S, DeMonte G, Morey-Klapsing G, Brüggemann GP, Arampatzis A (2005) Inevitable joint angular rotation affects muscle architecture during isometric contraction. J Electromyogr Kines 15:608–616CrossRef

Kaux JF, Forthomme B, Le Goff C, Crieland JM, Croisier JL (2011) Current opinions on tendinopathy. J Sports Sci Med 10:238–253PubMedPubMedCentral

Ker RF, Bennett MB, Bibby SR, Kester RC, Alexander RM (1987) The spring in the arch of the human foot. Nature 325:147–149CrossRefPubMed

Ker RF, Wang XT, Pike AV (2000) Fatigue quality of mammalian tendons. J Exp Biol 203:1317–1327PubMed

Kvist M (1994) Achilles tendon injuries in athletes. Sports Med 18:173–201CrossRefPubMed

Lavagnino M, Gardner K, Arnoczky SP (2013) Age-related changes in the cellular, mechanical, and contractile properties of rat tail tendons. Connect Tissue Res 54:70–75CrossRefPubMed

Lavagnino M, Bedi A, Walsh CP, Enselman ERS, Sheibani-Rad S, Arnoczky SP (2014) Tendon contraction after cyclic elongation is an age-dependent phenomenon in vitro and in vivo comparisons. Am J Sport Med 42:1471–1477CrossRef

Lichtwark GA, Bougoulias K, Wilson AM (2007) Muscle fascicle and series elastic element length changes along the length of the human gastrocnemius during walking and running. J Biomech 40:157–164CrossRefPubMed

Lichtwark GA, Cresswell AG, Newsham-West RJ (2013) Effects of running on human Achilles tendon length–tension properties in the free and gastrocnemius components. J Exp Biol 216:4388–4394CrossRefPubMed

Mademli L, Arampatzis A (2008) Mechanical and morphological properties of the triceps surae muscle–tendon unit in old and young adults and their interaction with a submaximal fatiguing contraction. J Electromyogr Kines 18:89–98CrossRef

Mademli L, Arampatzis A, Walsh M (2006) Effect of muscle fatigue on the compliance of the gastrocnemius medialis tendon and aponeurosis. J Biomech 39:426–434CrossRefPubMed

Maganaris CN (2003) Tendon conditioning: artefact or property? Proc Biol Sci 270(Suppl 1):S39–S42CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Maganaris CN, Baltzopoulos V, Sargeant AJ (1998) Changes in Achilles tendon moment arm from rest to maximum isometric plantarflexion: in vivo observations in man. J Physiol 510:977–985CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

McCamley J, Donati M, Grimpampi E, Mazza C (2012) An enhanced estimate of initial contact and final contact instants of time using lower trunk inertial sensor data. Gait Posture 36:316–318CrossRefPubMed

Noyes FR, Grood ES (1976) The strength of the anterior cruciate ligament in humans and Rhesus monkeys. J Bone Joint Surg 58:1074–1082CrossRefPubMed

Obst SJ, Newsham-West R, Barrett RS (2016) Changes in Achilles tendon mechanical properties following eccentric heel drop exercise are specific to the free tendon. Scand J Med Sci Spor 26:421–431CrossRef

Peltonen J, Cronin NJ, Avela J, Finni T (2010) In vivo mechanical response of human Achilles tendon to a single bout of hopping exercise. J Exp Biol 213:1259–1265CrossRefPubMed

Peltonen J, Cronin NJ, Stenroth L, Finni T, Avela J (2012) Achilles tendon stiffness is unchanged 1 h after a marathon. J Exp Biol 215:3665–3671CrossRefPubMed

Reeves ND, Maganaris CN, Ferretti G, Narici MV (2005) Influence of 90-day simulated microgravity on human tendon mechanical properties and the effect of resistive countermeasures. J Appl Physiol 98:2278–2286CrossRefPubMed

Stenroth L, Peltonen J, Cronin NJ, Sipilä S, Finni T (2012) Age-related differences in Achilles tendon properties and triceps surae muscle architecture in vivo. J Appl Physiol 113:1537–1544CrossRefPubMed

Tkaczuk H (1968) Tensile properties of human lumbar longitudinal ligaments. Acta Orthop Scand 39(sup115):1–69CrossRef

Viidik A (1982) Age-related changes in connective tissues. In: Viidik A (ed) Lectures on gerontology. Academic Press, London, pp 173–211

Wang XT, Ker RF, Alexander RM (1995) Fatigue rupture of wallaby tail tendons. J Exp Biol 198:847–852PubMed

Title: Aging and the effects of a half marathon on Achilles tendon force–elongation relationship
Authors: Thijs Maria Anne Ackermans
Gaspar Epro
Christopher McCrum
Kai Daniel Oberländer
Frank Suhr
Maarten Robert Drost
Kenneth Meijer
Kiros Karamanidis
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 11-12/2016
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3482-z

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Aging and the effects of a half marathon on Achilles tendon force–elongation relationship

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 11-12/2016

Resistance exercise increases intramuscular NF-κb signaling in untrained males

High-intensity Interval training enhances mobilization/functionality of endothelial progenitor cells and depressed shedding of vascular endothelial cells undergoing hypoxia

Heritability of heart rate recovery and vagal rebound after exercise

Corticospinal and transcallosal modulation of unilateral and bilateral contractions of lower limbs

The constant work rate critical power protocol overestimates ramp incremental exercise performance

Mechanisms of force depression caused by different types of physical exercise studied by direct electrical stimulation of human quadriceps muscle