Eight weeks of eccentric training at long-muscle length increases fascicle length independently of adaptations in passive mechanical properties.

Abstract

Eccentric exercise training is believed to induce an increase in muscle fascicle length. However, the mechanisms underlying this adaptation are not fully understood. This study aimed to determine if an increase in gastrocnemius medialis fascicle length following an 8-wk eccentric training is linked to changes in muscle tissue and joint mechanical properties. Thirty-three physically active young adults were assigned to one of the two training protocols targeting the plantar flexors: eccentric exercise at 1) long-muscle length or 2) short-muscle length. Fascicle length and muscle shear modulus of the gastrocnemius medialis were assessed using ultrasound imaging during passive ankle rotations, alongside measurements of passive ankle torque. A total of 27 participants successfully completed the training program and data processing stage (long-muscle length, n = 15; short-muscle length, n = 12). Maximal voluntary isometric torque increased significantly following the training programs (9.5%), with no differences between training groups. An increase in fascicle length (mean 8.5%) was observed in the long-muscle length group, from 39.5 ± 0.7° to 36.8 ± 0.8° in plantar flexion, but not in the short-muscle length group. Notably, this macrostructural adaptation was detected only at muscle lengths shorter than the slack length (i.e., absence of any muscle passive tension). The eccentric training did not alter the muscle shear modulus or slack length. Collectively, these findings suggest that fascicle length adaptations in response to eccentric training were unrelated to changes in passive muscle-tendon mechanical properties. Consequently, the increase in fascicle length may be attributed to an increase in sarcomere length and/or an addition of sarcomeres in series.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that an 8-wk eccentric training program significantly increases gastrocnemius medialis fascicle length in humans, independent of any adaptions in passive muscle-tendon mechanical properties. Fascicle length adaptions were specific to the group that trained at long-muscle lengths, highlighting the importance of the muscle-tendon length range during eccentric exercise programs. This factor may be crucial for fine-tuning structural adaptations at the fascicle level, likely through the addition of sarcomeres in series.