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Age‐specific neuromuscular interaction during elderly habitual running
Author(s) -
Sano K.,
Akiyama M.,
HoffrénMikkola M.,
Ito A.,
Komi P. V.,
Ishikawa M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta physiologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.591
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1748-1716
pISSN - 1748-1708
DOI - 10.1111/apha.12550
Subject(s) - fascicle , treadmill , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , tendon , anatomy , age groups , physical therapy , demography , sociology
Aim It has been reported that advancing age causes tendons to become more compliant and fascicles length shorter. This could then lead to enhancement of movement efficiency provided that the elderly adults can activate their muscles in the same way as the younger adults ( YOUNG ) during dynamic movements. This study was designed to examine the age‐specific behaviour of the medial gastrocnemius ( MG ) fascicles and tendinous tissues together with lower‐leg muscle activities when the well‐trained elderly runners ran on the treadmill at preferred speeds. Methods The well‐trained 11 elderly subjects ( ELD ) who have running experiences and 11 YOUNG were recruited as subjects. While ELD were running on the treadmill at their preferred speed, the lengths of the MG fascicles and tendinous tissues ( L fa and L TT respectively) were measured by ultrasonography together with kinematics and lower‐leg muscle activities. Results Although the behaviour of the MG muscle–tendon unit did not show any significant differences between both groups during the contact, our results showed significant differences in fascicle–tendinous tissue behaviour as well as muscle activities. The L TT during the entire contact phase was greater in ELD than in YOUNG ( P < 0.001). Co‐activation of lower‐leg muscles from pre‐activation to braking phases was higher in ELD than in YOUNG ( P < 0.01). The changes of the L fa during contact were less, and the L TT shortening was greater in ELD than in YOUNG ( P < 0.001). Conclusion These results imply that ELD cannot activate their muscles similar to YOUNG during running, and those different activities may modify the L fa to utilize the tendon elasticity effectively.