Differences in lower extremity biomechanics, shank muscle activation and medial gastrocnemius-tendon unit behavior between novice and experienced non-rearfoot strike runners.
IF 4.8 3区 工程技术Q1 BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
Bokai Suo, Zeyu Lu, Jichao Wang, Kaicheng Wu, Liqin Deng, Lu Li, Yunjian Zhong, Weijie Fu
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the differences in lower extremity kinematics and kinetics, shank muscle activation, and medial gastrocnemius-tendon unit behavior between habitual rearfoot strike (RFS) runners and habitual non-rearfoot strike (NRFS) runners when adopting an NRFS pattern.
Methods: Twelve male habitual RFS runners (novice NRFS runners, NN) and twelve male habitual NRFS runners (experienced NRFS runners, EN) were recruited. All participants were required to run at 9 km/h on the split-belt 3D instrumented treadmill using an NRFS pattern. 3D lower extremity kinematics and kinetics, surface electromyography (sEMG) signals of medial and lateral gastrocnemius (MG and LG), soleus (SOL), and tibialis anterior (TA), as well as dynamic ultrasound imaging of MG tendon unit behavior during running were collected synchronously. Intergroup comparisons were performed using independent samples t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests, with Significance levels (α) adjusted via Bonferroni correction.
Results: Compared to EN, NN exhibited significantly greater fascicle shortening lengths (NN: 1.54 ± 0.66 cm; EN: 0.94 ± 0.23 cm; p = 0.013) and muscle-tendon unit (MTU) shortening lengths (NN: 3.45 ± 0.51 cm; EN: 1.96 ± 0.23 cm; p < 0.001) of MG. No intergroup differences were observed in lower extremity kinematics, kinetics, or shank muscle activation.
Conclusion: While novice and experienced NRFS runners exhibited similar kinematic, kinetic and muscle activation characteristics, the increased fascicle and muscle-tendon unit shortening lengths of medial gastrocnemius in novice NRFS runners potentially reflect reduced muscle contraction efficiency.
期刊介绍:
The translation of new discoveries in medicine to clinical routine has never been easy. During the second half of the last century, thanks to the progress in chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology, we have seen the development and the application of a large number of drugs and devices aimed at the treatment of symptoms, blocking unwanted pathways and, in the case of infectious diseases, fighting the micro-organisms responsible. However, we are facing, today, a dramatic change in the therapeutic approach to pathologies and diseases. Indeed, the challenge of the present and the next decade is to fully restore the physiological status of the diseased organism and to completely regenerate tissue and organs when they are so seriously affected that treatments cannot be limited to the repression of symptoms or to the repair of damage. This is being made possible thanks to the major developments made in basic cell and molecular biology, including stem cell science, growth factor delivery, gene isolation and transfection, the advances in bioengineering and nanotechnology, including development of new biomaterials, biofabrication technologies and use of bioreactors, and the big improvements in diagnostic tools and imaging of cells, tissues and organs.
In today`s world, an enhancement of communication between multidisciplinary experts, together with the promotion of joint projects and close collaborations among scientists, engineers, industry people, regulatory agencies and physicians are absolute requirements for the success of any attempt to develop and clinically apply a new biological therapy or an innovative device involving the collective use of biomaterials, cells and/or bioactive molecules. “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology” aspires to be a forum for all people involved in the process by bridging the gap too often existing between a discovery in the basic sciences and its clinical application.