Muscle Stiffness of the Vastus Lateralis in Sprinters and Long-Distance Runners

This study aimed to identify the characteristics of muscle stiffness in sprinters and long-distance runners, and to determine how muscle stiffness is related to the performance of these athletes. Methods In 22 male sprinters (SPR group), 22 male long-distance runners (LDR group), and 19 healthy untrained control male subjects (CON group), the muscle shear wave speed (a proxy for stiffness) of the vastus lateralis (VL) was measured under passive (resting) and active (contracting the knee extensors at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction) conditions, by using ultrasound shear wave elastography. Results The passive VL shear wave speed in SPR group was significantly lower than that in LDR group (P = 0.039). The active VL shear wave speed in LDR group was significantly higher than that in SPR (P = 0.022) and CON (P
Source: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: APPLIED SCIENCES Source Type: research