ArticleEuropean journal of applied physiology2015
Muscle and tendon stiffness assessment using the alpha method and ultrafast ultrasound.
Article in European journal of applied physiology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- The effects of plyometric jump training on lower-limb stiffness in healthy individuals: A meta-analytical comparison.Journal of sport and health science · 2023Pooled it
- Changes in mechanical properties at the muscle level could be detected by Nakagami imaging during in-vivo fixed-end contractions.PloS one · 2024Article
- Non-linear properties of the Achilles tendon determine ankle impedance over a broad range of activations in humans.The Journal of experimental biology · 2023Article
- Simultaneous Quantification of Ankle, Muscle, and Tendon Impedance in Humans.IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering · 2022Article
- Qualitative ultrasonography scale of the intensity of local twitch response during dry needling and its association with modified joint range of motion: a cross-sectional study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2021Article
- Potentiation of the first and second phases of the M wave after maximal voluntary contractions in the biceps brachii muscle.Medical & biological engineering & computing · 2019Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe alpha method enables the dissociation of the passive (i.e., tendinous tissues) and active (i.e., fascicles) part of muscle-tendon stiffness. It is based on two main assumptions (i.e., a constant tendon stiffness and a muscle stiffness proportional to the torque produced), which have not been approved in vivo. The purpose of this study was to validate these two assumptions using ultrafast ultrasound, and to compare fascicle and tendon stiffness as determined by both methods.
methodsTen healthy males performed a fast-stretch experiment on the ankle plantar flexors. The mathematical model of the alpha method allowed to estimate the stiffness of muscle and tendinous tissues on the basis of the assumptions associated to the behaviors of muscle fascicles and tendinous tissues. Muscle and tendon stiffness of the gastrocnemius medialis were also calculated from ultrafast ultrasound measurements.
resultsMuscle stiffness measured by the ultrasound method increased from 217 ± 83 to 720 ± 265 N/mm with an increasing level of force (from 30 to 90 % MVC). Tendinous stiffness measured by the ultrasound method remained constant across the force level (P < 0.001). However, the stiffness values obtained with both methods were significantly different (P < 0.001).
conclusionsIn conclusion, these findings validate the two main assumptions underlying the alpha method using ultrasound. Differences in stiffness values obtained with alpha and ultrasound methods could be associated with physiological and geometrical differences between the whole plantar flexors muscles characterized by the alpha method and the gastrocnemius medialis assessed with the ultrasound method.
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