Journal
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
Volume 90, Issue 1, Pages 164-171Publisher
AMER PHYSIOLOGICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1152/jappl.2001.90.1.164
Keywords
endurance training; downhill running; tendon stiffness; Nu-mida meleagris
Categories
Funding
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES [R29AR039318, R01AR039318] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NIAMS NIH HHS [AR-39318] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of long-term exercise on tendon compliance and to ascertain whether tendons adapt differently to downhill running vs. running on a level surface. We carried out this investigation on the gastrocnemius tendon of helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) that were trained for 8-12 wk before commencing experimental procedures. We used an in situ technique to measure tendon stiffness. The animals were deeply anesthetized with isofluorane during all in situ procedures. Our results indicate that long-term exercise increased tendon stiffness. This finding held true after normalization for the cross-sectional area of the free tendon, likely reflecting a change in the material properties of the exercised tendons. Whether training consisted of level or downhill running did not appear to influence response of the tendon to exercise. We hypothesize that the increased stiffness observed in tendons after a long-term running program may be a response to repeated stress and may function as a mechanism to resist tendon damage due to mechanical fatigue.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available