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Aging and the effects of a half marathon on Achilles tendon force–elongation relationship

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Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to determine whether there are different changes in Achilles tendon (AT) mechanical properties in middle-aged, compared to younger runners that might indicate that tendon fatigue, induced by long-distance running, is age-dependent.

Methods

27 middle-aged (50–67 years) and 22 younger (21–29 years) participants ran a 21 km route at their own pace (mean and SD: old: 3.1 ± 0.3 m s−1; young: 3.6 ± 0.5 m s−1). We tested for changes in the AT force–elongation relationship using dynamometry and ultrasonography during isometric voluntary ankle plantarflexion ramp contractions, conducted 20–28 h pre-run, immediately pre-run, immediately post-run and 20–28 h post-run. Stride frequency and number were examined to estimate cyclic tensile loading characteristics of the tendon during running.

Results

Muscle strength decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups immediately post-run (old: 17 %; young: 11 %) and recovered to baseline within 20–28 h post-run. AT stiffness did not change for the younger adults, whereas the middle-aged adults showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in AT stiffness (22 %). However, tendon stiffness recovered to baseline 20–28 h post-run. Middle-aged, compared to young adults, demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) greater stride frequency and number, but no correlations with tendon fatigue changes were determined (R 2 ≤ 0.038).

Conclusions

The results suggest that the plasticity of the AT in response to short-term mechanical loading may be age dependent and that the AT length–tension properties of middle-aged runners may be more vulnerable to change following running compared to younger athletes. However, the observed AT changes in the middle-aged runners dissipated within 20–28 h post-run, suggesting that a tendon viscoelastic recovery mechanism may occur in vivo.

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Abbreviations

1dayPre-Run:

20–28 h before the run

1dayPost-Run:

Within 20–28 h after the run

AT:

Achilles tendon

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CSA:

Cross-sectional area

GM:

Gastrocnemius medialis

imPre-Run:

Immediately before the run

imPost-Run:

Immediately after the run

MTU:

Muscle–tendon unit

MVC:

Maximal voluntary plantarflexion ramp contraction

SD:

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgments

The Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft (BISp), the Olympiastützpunkt Rheinland and the Forschungsservicestelle of the German Sport University Cologne (Hochschulinterne Forschungsförderung) provided the funding for this study. In addition, we would like to thank Dr. Falk Schade for his support throughout this research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Thijs Maria Anne Ackermans, Gaspar Epro, Christopher McCrum & Kiros Karamanidis

  2. Department of Human Movement Science, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Universiteitssingel 60, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Thijs Maria Anne Ackermans, Christopher McCrum, Maarten Robert Drost & Kenneth Meijer

  3. Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Gaspar Epro

  4. Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Media School, Im Mediapark 4C, 50670, Cologne, Germany

    Kai Daniel Oberländer

  5. Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Frank Suhr

Authors
  1. Thijs Maria Anne Ackermans
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  2. Gaspar Epro
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  3. Christopher McCrum
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Correspondence to Kiros Karamanidis.

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Communicated by Olivier Seynnes.

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Ackermans, T.M.A., Epro, G., McCrum, C. et al. Aging and the effects of a half marathon on Achilles tendon force–elongation relationship. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 2281–2292 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3482-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3482-z

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