Mian O S, Thom J M, Ardigò L P, Minetti A E, Narici M V
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, UK.
Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2007 Jan;189(1):57-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2006.01634.x.
Age-related differences in muscle architectural and tendon mechanical properties have been observed in vivo under static conditions and during single joint contractions. The aim of this study was to determine if there are age-related differences in gastrocnemius fascicle-tendon interactions during a fundamental locomotor task - walking.
Eight young adults (YA; 27 +/- 4 years) and eight older adults (OA; 77 +/- 4 years) walked on a treadmill at 1.11 m s(-1) whilst length changes in the gastrocnemius lateralis muscle tendon complex (MTC), fascicles and tendinous tissue (TT) were determined from joint angles, ultrasonography and a geometric MTC model (combining MTC and fascicle measurements) respectively.
There was no age-related difference in lengthening of the MTC during stance. However, the fascicle and TT contribution to MTC lengthening was altered; TT lengthening was larger in OA than in YA (P = 0.05) and fascicle lengthening was less in OA than YA (P < 0.05). There were no differences between groups in MTC, fascicle or TT shortening amplitude during push-off.
The observations are consistent with previous reports of increased compliance of TT in older adults.
在静态条件下以及单关节收缩过程中，已在体内观察到肌肉结构和肌腱力学特性的年龄相关差异。本研究的目的是确定在一项基本的运动任务——行走过程中，腓肠肌束-腱相互作用是否存在年龄相关差异。
8名年轻成年人（YA；27±4岁）和8名老年人（OA；77±4岁）在跑步机上以1.11米/秒的速度行走，同时分别根据关节角度、超声检查和几何肌-腱复合体（MTC）模型（结合MTC和肌束测量）确定腓肠肌外侧肌-腱复合体（MTC）、肌束和腱组织（TT）的长度变化。
在站立期，MTC的延长不存在年龄相关差异。然而，肌束和TT对MTC延长的贡献发生了改变；OA中TT的延长大于YA（P = 0.05），且OA中肌束的延长小于YA（P < 0.05）。在蹬离期，两组之间MTC、肌束或TT的缩短幅度没有差异。
这些观察结果与先前关于老年人TT顺应性增加的报道一致。
