Dong Zheng, Moon YoungJin, Lee Sang Ki, Yun Hwi-Yeol, Song JuWon, Xu JiaHao, Shin Min Ju, Im DuBin, Wang XuanRu
Department of Sport Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea.
College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Jun 9;13(12):1375. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13121375.
This study is the first to investigate the association between lower limb muscle-tendon mechanical properties and dual-task gait variability using a handheld, non-invasive myotonometer (MyotonPRO).
A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 48 participants (older adults: 72.05 ± 3.52 years; younger adults: 24.8 ± 2.36 years). The stiffness and elasticity of dominant lower limb muscles and tendons were assessed using the MyotonPRO. Gait variability-including step length, stride length, and gait cycle time-was measured using the OptoGait system.
Compared to the younger group, older adults showed increased stiffness of the patellar tendon ( < 0.001) and decreased stiffness of the Achilles tendon ( < 0.047). Additionally, both the rectus femoris and biceps femoris exhibited significantly higher stiffness ( < 0.05) and reduced elasticity ( < 0.001). Patellar tendon stiffness was positively correlated with gait variability (r = 0.55 to 0.68, < 0.01), whereas Achilles tendon stiffness showed a negative correlation (r = -0.32 to -0.40, < 0.05).
This study provides preliminary evidence linking muscle-tendon mechanical properties with dual-task gait stability in older adults. Increased stiffness in the patellar tendon and decreased stiffness in the Achilles tendon suggest these structural characteristics may play a crucial role in gait control and hold potential as predictive markers of fall risk. Linking non-invasive MyotonPRO-derived mechanical properties with key spatiotemporal gait parameters may support its potential use in the early detection of gait instability in older adults.
本研究首次使用手持式无创肌张力计（MyotonPRO）调查下肢肌肉 - 肌腱力学特性与双任务步态变异性之间的关联。
采用横断面设计，纳入48名参与者（老年人：72.05±3.52岁；年轻人：24.8±2.36岁）。使用MyotonPRO评估优势下肢肌肉和肌腱的刚度和弹性。使用OptoGait系统测量步态变异性，包括步长、步幅和步态周期时间。
与年轻组相比，老年人髌腱刚度增加（<0.001），跟腱刚度降低（<0.047）。此外，股直肌和股二头肌均表现出显著更高的刚度（<0.05）和更低的弹性（<0.001）。髌腱刚度与步态变异性呈正相关（r = 0.55至0.68，<0.01），而跟腱刚度呈负相关（r = -0.32至-0.40，<0.05）。
本研究提供了初步证据，表明老年人的肌肉 - 肌腱力学特性与双任务步态稳定性之间存在联系。髌腱刚度增加和跟腱刚度降低表明这些结构特征可能在步态控制中起关键作用，并有望作为跌倒风险的预测指标。将无创MyotonPRO得出的力学特性与关键时空步态参数联系起来，可能支持其在早期检测老年人步态不稳方面的潜在应用。
