Centre for Health, Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences Research, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.
Sports Med. 2012 Nov 1;42(11):929-40. doi: 10.1007/BF03262304.
Limb stiffness or musculotendinous stiffness (MTS) has previously been examined in relation to performance and characterized using a number of different methods. However, the fact that MTS shows only low to moderate correlations to performances may indicate a lack of understanding of this parameter. In addition to this, variation is seen between studies examining the same factors. To date, our understanding of MTS and its components are not complete and thus it is unclear which characteristic value represents the ideal index of stiffness as it relates to performance. Moreover, it is uncertain how MTS stiffness as a functional measure relates to performance, and also if there is an optimal amount of MTS stiffness for specific functions or tasks. The knowledge of the interplay of MTU stiffness as it relates to performance and injury risk is also poorly understood in that there is likely a disparity between levels of stiffness required to optimize performance and those required to minimize injury risk. The aim of this article is to review the literature as it describes the components of MTS and to discuss these in terms of their relationship to functional performance; consider adaptations of the MTU with training along with associated performance changes; highlight and discuss how stiffness may affect loading of the soft and bony tissues in terms of the MTU components and gender, with respect to risk of injury; discuss the apparent differences in the literature regarding associations of the various forms of stiffness index to function; suggest recommendations for training in light of adaptation of the muscle and tendon and injury risk in context of gender; and, finally, to highlight potential limitations of current methodologies and suggest further work to gain insight into the mechanisms of stiffness. It is hoped that by suggesting future work, a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of MTS will be gained, thus enabling appropriate interventions to optimally modify this parameter for specific requirements.
肢体僵硬或肌肉肌腱僵硬（MTS）以前曾被研究过与运动表现的关系，并采用了许多不同的方法进行了描述。然而，MTS 与运动表现的相关性仅为低至中度，这可能表明我们对该参数的理解不足。除此之外，研究同一因素的研究之间也存在差异。迄今为止，我们对 MTS 及其组成部分的了解并不完整，因此尚不清楚哪个特征值代表与运动表现相关的理想僵硬指数。此外，MTS 僵硬作为功能测量与运动表现的关系尚不清楚，以及对于特定功能或任务是否存在最佳的 MTS 僵硬量。肌肉肌腱单位僵硬与运动表现和受伤风险之间的相互作用的知识也知之甚少，因为为了优化表现而需要的僵硬水平与为了最小化受伤风险而需要的僵硬水平之间可能存在差异。本文的目的是回顾文献，描述 MTS 的组成部分，并讨论它们与功能表现的关系；考虑随着训练而对肌肉肌腱单位的适应性以及相关的运动表现变化；强调并讨论僵硬如何根据性别影响肌肉肌腱单位的软组织和骨骼组织的负荷，从而影响受伤风险；讨论文献中关于各种形式的僵硬指数与功能的关联的明显差异；根据肌肉和肌腱的适应以及性别方面的受伤风险，就训练提出建议；最后，突出当前方法学的明显差异，并建议进一步的工作，以深入了解僵硬的机制。希望通过提出未来的工作，可以更详细和全面地了解 MTS，从而能够针对特定要求对该参数进行适当的干预以进行优化调整。
