Gender differences in both active and passive parts of the plantar flexors series elastic component stiffness and geometrical parameters of the muscle-tendon complex

Men are reportedly at higher risk of plantar flexor muscle injury and Achilles tendon ruptures than women. Biomechanical parameters are thought to play a role in the higher frequency of injury to males. One parameter is the stiffness of tissues; a stiff tissue cannot absorb sufficient energy with lo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of orthopaedic research 2012-05, Vol.30 (5), p.707-712
Main Authors: Fouré, Alexandre, Cornu, Christophe, McNair, Peter J., Nordez, Antoine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Achilles Tendon - physiology
cross-sectional area
Elasticity
Female
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
injury risk
Life Sciences
Male
men
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Sex Characteristics
stiffness
women
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Summary:Men are reportedly at higher risk of plantar flexor muscle injury and Achilles tendon ruptures than women. Biomechanical parameters are thought to play a role in the higher frequency of injury to males. One parameter is the stiffness of tissues; a stiff tissue cannot absorb sufficient energy with loading, and subsequently may be more likely to be injured. Thus, our purpose was to investigate the gender difference in the geometrical parameters of plantar flexor's muscle–tendon complex and the stiffness of both active and passive parts of the series elastic component (SSEC1 and SSEC2, respectively). Using the alpha method on data obtained from quick stretches to the plantar flexors performed during isometric contractions, SSEC1 and SSEC2 were assessed. Plantar flexor muscles and Achilles tendon cross‐sectional areas (CSATS and CSAAT, respectively) were determined in young healthy men (n = 49) and women (n = 31). The findings showed that SSEC2 was higher in men (p  0.05). In contrast, SSEC1 was lower in men (p 
ISSN:0736-0266
1554-527X
DOI:10.1002/jor.21584