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The effect of eccentric and concentric calf muscle training on Achilles tendon stiffness

The effect of eccentric and concentric calf muscle training on Achilles tendon stiffness
The effect of eccentric and concentric calf muscle training on Achilles tendon stiffness
Objective: To compare in vivo effects of eccentric and concentric calf muscle training on Achilles tendon stiffness, in subjects without tendinopathy.

Methods: Thirty-eight recreational athletes completed 6 weeks eccentric (6 males, 13 females, 21.6?±?2.2 years) or concentric training (8 males, 11 females, 21.1?±?2.0 years). Achilles tendon stiffness, tendon modulus and single-leg jump height were measured before and after intervention. Exercise adherence was recorded using a diary.

Results: All data are reported as mean?±?SD. Groups were matched for height and weight but the eccentric training group were more active at baseline (P?<?0.05). Tendon stiffness was higher in the eccentrically trained group at baseline compared to the concentrically trained group (20.9?±?7.3 N/mm v 13.38?±?4.66 N/mm; P?=?0.001) and decreased significantly after eccentric training (to 17.2 (?±?5.9) N/mm (P?=?0.035)). There was no stiffness change in the concentric group (P?=?0.405). Stiffness modulus showed similar changes to stiffness. An inverse correlation was found between initial, and subsequent, reduction in stiffness (r?=??0.66). Jump height did not change and no correlation between stiffness change and adherence was observed in either group (r?=?0.01).

Conclusions: Six weeks of eccentric training can alter Achilles tendon stiffness while a matched concentric programme shows no similar effects. Studies in patients with Achilles tendinopathy are warranted.

0269-2155
238-247
Morrissey, Dylan
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Roskilly, Anna
f9e4e8b7-49b3-432c-9c5f-e94f1d2bac78
Twycross-Lewis, Richard
c8a23442-7581-467a-8f14-b402b5bc135b
Isinkaye, Tomide
d97b83d8-53bf-4c68-968a-a89de428be68
Screen, Hazel
40c1ad0d-c70e-43b9-bacd-00f34acf14d4
Woledge, Roger
6ab0084a-8371-42a4-9cca-4cd2c1feed24
Bader, Dan
9884d4f6-2607-4d48-bf0c-62bdcc0d1dbf
Morrissey, Dylan
bb51199e-fc9a-4024-b19e-4dee2fc7eb76
Roskilly, Anna
f9e4e8b7-49b3-432c-9c5f-e94f1d2bac78
Twycross-Lewis, Richard
c8a23442-7581-467a-8f14-b402b5bc135b
Isinkaye, Tomide
d97b83d8-53bf-4c68-968a-a89de428be68
Screen, Hazel
40c1ad0d-c70e-43b9-bacd-00f34acf14d4
Woledge, Roger
6ab0084a-8371-42a4-9cca-4cd2c1feed24
Bader, Dan
9884d4f6-2607-4d48-bf0c-62bdcc0d1dbf

Morrissey, Dylan, Roskilly, Anna, Twycross-Lewis, Richard, Isinkaye, Tomide, Screen, Hazel, Woledge, Roger and Bader, Dan (2011) The effect of eccentric and concentric calf muscle training on Achilles tendon stiffness. Clinical Rehabilitation, 25 (3), 238-247. (doi:10.1177/0269215510382600). (PMID:20980351)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective: To compare in vivo effects of eccentric and concentric calf muscle training on Achilles tendon stiffness, in subjects without tendinopathy.

Methods: Thirty-eight recreational athletes completed 6 weeks eccentric (6 males, 13 females, 21.6?±?2.2 years) or concentric training (8 males, 11 females, 21.1?±?2.0 years). Achilles tendon stiffness, tendon modulus and single-leg jump height were measured before and after intervention. Exercise adherence was recorded using a diary.

Results: All data are reported as mean?±?SD. Groups were matched for height and weight but the eccentric training group were more active at baseline (P?<?0.05). Tendon stiffness was higher in the eccentrically trained group at baseline compared to the concentrically trained group (20.9?±?7.3 N/mm v 13.38?±?4.66 N/mm; P?=?0.001) and decreased significantly after eccentric training (to 17.2 (?±?5.9) N/mm (P?=?0.035)). There was no stiffness change in the concentric group (P?=?0.405). Stiffness modulus showed similar changes to stiffness. An inverse correlation was found between initial, and subsequent, reduction in stiffness (r?=??0.66). Jump height did not change and no correlation between stiffness change and adherence was observed in either group (r?=?0.01).

Conclusions: Six weeks of eccentric training can alter Achilles tendon stiffness while a matched concentric programme shows no similar effects. Studies in patients with Achilles tendinopathy are warranted.

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Published date: March 2011

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 189397
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/189397
ISSN: 0269-2155
PURE UUID: 5703683f-c3bf-4231-aaf5-23175e6bbd92
ORCID for Dan Bader: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1208-3507

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Date deposited: 02 Jun 2011 15:39
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:35

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Contributors

Author: Dylan Morrissey
Author: Anna Roskilly
Author: Richard Twycross-Lewis
Author: Tomide Isinkaye
Author: Hazel Screen
Author: Roger Woledge
Author: Dan Bader ORCID iD

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