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Influence of musculo-tendinous stiffness of the plantar ankle flexor muscles upon maximal power output on a cycle ergometre

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Abstract

The importance of maximal voluntary torque (T MVC), maximal rate of torque development (MRTD) and musculo-tendinous stiffness of the triceps surae for maximal power output on a cycle ergometre (P max) was studied in 21 healthy subjects by studying the relationships between maximal cycling power related to body mass (P max BM−1) with T MVC, MRTD and different indices of musculo-tendinous stiffness of the ankle flexor. P max BM−1 was calculated from the data of an all-out force–velocity test on a Monark cycle ergometre. T MVC and MRTD were measured on a specific ankle ergometre. Musculo-tendinous stiffness was estimated by means of quick releases at 20, 40, 60 and 80% T MVC on the same ankle ergometre. P max BM−1 was significantly and positively correlated with MRTD related to body mass but the positive correlation between P max BM−1 and T MVC did not reach the significance level (0.05). P max BM−1 was significantly and positively correlated with the estimation of stiffness at 40% T MVC (S0.4), but not with stiffness at 20, 60 and 80% T MVC. The results of the present study suggest that maximal power output during cycling is significantly correlated with the level of musculo-tendinous stiffness which corresponds to torque range around peak torque at optimal pedal rate. However, the low coefficient of determination (r 2 = 0.203) between P max BM−1 and S 0.4 BM−1 suggested that P max BM−1 largely depended on other factors than the musculo-tendinous stiffness of the only plantar flexors.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors has conflicts of interest associated with this study

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CeRSM, E.A. 2931, Equipe de Physiologie et de Biomécanique du Mouvement, UFR STAPS, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre—La Défense, 200 avenue de la république, 92000, Nanterre, France

    Tarak Driss & Majdi Rouis

  2. UMR-CNRS 6600, Université de Technologie, 60205, Compiègne cedex, France

    Daniel Lambertz

  3. Núcleo de Educação Física e Ciências do Esporte/Centro Acadêmico de Vitória de Santo Antão Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, Brazil

    Daniel Lambertz

  4. Laboratoire de Physiologie, UFR de Santé, Médecine et Biologie humaine, Université Paris 13, rue Marcel Cachin, 93017, Bobigny cedex, France

    Henry Vandewalle

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  1. Tarak Driss
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  2. Daniel Lambertz
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  3. Majdi Rouis
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  4. Henry Vandewalle
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Correspondence to Tarak Driss.

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Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Driss, T., Lambertz, D., Rouis, M. et al. Influence of musculo-tendinous stiffness of the plantar ankle flexor muscles upon maximal power output on a cycle ergometre. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 3721–3728 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2353-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2353-5

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