A1 Journal article (refereed)
Non-uniformity of displacement and strain within the Achilles tendon is affected by joint angle configuration and differential muscle loading (2020)

Maas, H., Noort, W., Baan, G. C., & Finni, T. (2020). Non-uniformity of displacement and strain within the Achilles tendon is affected by joint angle configuration and differential muscle loading. Journal of Biomechanics, 101, Article 109634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.109634

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Maas, Huub; Noort, Wendy; Baan, Guus C.; Finni, Taija

Journal or series: Journal of Biomechanics

ISSN: 0021-9290

eISSN: 1873-2380

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 101

Article number: 109634

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.109634

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67959

Abstract

Although the Achilles tendon (AT) has been studied for more than a century, a complete understanding of the mechanical and functional consequences of AT structural organization is currently lacking. The aim of this study was to assess how joint angle configuration affects subtendon displacement and strain of soleus (SOL) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles. Knots sutured onto SOL and LG subtendons of 12 Wistar rats, were videotaped to quantify displacements and the ankle torque was assessed for different isometric activation conditions (i.e., individual and simultaneous) of the triceps surae muscles. Changing ankle and knee joint angle affected the magnitude of displacement, relative displacement and strain of both SOL and LG subtendons. SOL subtendon behavior was not only affected by changes in ankle angle, but also by changes in knee angle. Displacement of SOL subtendon decreased (28-49%), but strain increased in response to knee extension. Independent of joint angle configuration, stimulation of any combination of the muscles typically resulted in displacements and strains of LG and SOL subtendons. Typically SOL displaced more but LG displaced more when stimulated at longer muscle lengths. Our results demonstrate that the distinct subtendons of the Achilles tendon can move and deform differently, but are not fully independent. Within the AT, there appears to be a precarious balance between sliding allowance and mechanical connectivity between subtendons.

Keywords: biomechanics; ankles; tendons; calcaneal tendon; muscles; strain

Free keywords: shear; strain; displacement; ankle torque; Achilles tendon; soleus; gastrocnemius

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 2