Older Adults Overcome Reduced Triceps Surae Structural Stiffness to Preserve Ankle Joint Quasi-Stiffness During Walking.

ABSTRACT: Ankle joint quasi-stiffness is an aggregate measure of the interaction between triceps surae muscle stiffness and Achilles tendon stiffness. This interaction may be altered due to age-related changes in the structural properties and functional behavior of the Achilles tendon and triceps surae muscles. The authors hypothesized that, due to a more compliant of Achilles' tendon, older adults would exhibit lower ankle joint quasi-stiffness than young adults during walking and during isolated contractions at matched triceps surae muscle activations. The authors also hypothesized that, independent of age, triceps surae muscle stiffness and ankle joint quasi-stiffness would increase with triceps surae muscle activation. The authors used conventional gait analysis in one experiment and, in another

SUBMITTER: Krupenevich RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8020011 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature