Examining the intrinsic foot muscles’ capacity to modulate plantar flexor gearing and ankle joint contributions to propulsion in vertical jumping

ABSTRACT: Highlights • Metatarsalphalangeal joint quasi-stiffness during jumping was reduced by the application of a selective tibial nerve block, which removed the active contributions of the intrinsic foot muscles• When jumping under the nerve block, ankle leverage and torque were reduced when compared to normal conditions• Fascicle and muscle–tendon unit velocity were not different during jumping propulsion between normal and nerve block conditions• Although impulse was similar between conditions, jump height was reduced under the nerve block condition due to a lower take-off position of the center of mass

Background

During human locomotion, a sufficiently stiff foot allows the ankle plantar flexors to generate large propulsive powers. Increasing foot stiffness (e.g., via a carbon plate)

SUBMITTER: Smith R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10466247 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature