Discipline-specific Torque-Velocity Profiles and Musculotendinous Morphology in Athletes

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare torque-velocity profiles, muscle architecture, tendon dimensions, and bilateral-symmetry between competitive cyclists (CY), competitive runners (RN), ice-hockey players (IH), basketball players (BP), and physically-active individuals (CN) (n=10 for each group). Methods: Vastus lateralis (VL) muscle and patellar tendon (PT) structures were determined with B-mode ultrasonography, and maximal knee extensor isokinetic torque was assessed at three different velocities. Results: Optimal torque and velocity were lower in runners than CY, BP and IH (p<0.05). Maximal power was similar between the athlete groups but greater than CN (p<0.05). Furthermore, RN and BP reached their peak-torque at longer muscle lengths compared to IH and CY (p<0.05). RN had the lowest VL muscle thickness and the greatest fascicle length, while CY had the greatest pennation angle (p<0.05). CY had the greatest PT thickness, particularly at the proximal and medial sites, while BP at the distal point (p<0.05), with similar trends observed for PT cross-sectional-area. Conclusions: Our findings show that even if power generating capacity is similar between athletic disciplines, there are discipline-specific muscle adaptations, where particularly runners appear to have muscles adapted for speed rather than torque development, while in cyclists, velocity is sacrificed for torque development

Neuromuscular differences between prepubescents boys and adult men during drop jump

The purpose of the present study was to determine the lower extremities biomechanical differences between prepubescent and adult males during drop jumps (DJs). Twenty-four untrained males (12 prepubescents, 12 adults) performed DJs from 20 cm height. Kinematics of the lower extremities were captured, in addition with vertical ground reaction forces (vGRFs) and EMG activity of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM), soleus (SOL) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. The results showed that men jumped higher, as expected, but their knees were more flexed prior to landing, and their preactivation level was higher and longer in duration compared to prepubescent boys. During landing, men had shorter contact times, lower vGRF normalized to body mass, and less maximal knee joint flexion. Regarding EMG activity men presented higher stretch reflex and higher EMG activity during the braking phase but the level of coactivation (TA to GM + SOL ratio) was lower. It is seems that pre-landing and landing patterns during a complex task such as DJ are affected by physical development. There are indications that men had higher performance in a DJ than prepubescent boys because they activated more effectively their muscles during the preactivation and braking phase. The above-mentioned data support the hypothesis that prepubescent boys might be inferior in optimal regulation of their muscle-tendon unit stiffness