Effects of different duration isometric contractions on tendon elasticity in human quadriceps muscles

Abstract

1. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of isometric training protocols with long- and short-duration contractions on the elasticity of human tendon structures in vivo. The elasticity was assessed through in vivo determination of the elongation (L) of the tendons and aponeuroses using ultrasonography, while the subjects performed ramp isometric exercise up to maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). 2. Eight young males completed 12 weeks (4 days per week) of a unilateral isometric training programme on knee extensors, which consisted of two different combinations of contraction and relaxation times at 70 % MVC: one leg was trained using a short-duration protocol (3 sets of 50 repetitions of contraction for 1 s and relaxation for 2 s), and the other leg was trained using a long-duration protocol (4 sets of a combination of contraction for 20 s and relaxation for 1 min). The training volume per session, expressed as the integrated torque, was the same for the two protocols. 3. Both protocols resulted in a significant increase in MVC: 31.8 +/- 17.2 % for the short-duration protocol and 33.9 +/- 14.4 % for the long-duration protocol. Moreover, the training produced significant increases in the muscle volume of the constituents of the quadriceps femoris, with similar relative gains for the two protocols: 7.4 +/- 3.9 % for the short-duration protocol and 7.6 +/- 4.3 % for the long-duration protocol. 4. The short-duration protocol produced no significant change in L values at any of the force production levels. For the long-duration protocol, however, the L values above 550 N were significantly shorter after training. Analysis revealed that the group x test time interaction effect on tendon stiffness was significant. Stiffness increased significantly for the long-duration protocol, but not for the short-duration protocol. 5. The present study demonstrates a greater increase in stiffness of human tendon structures following isometric training using longer duration contractions compared to shorter contractions. This suggests that the changes in the elasticity of the tendon structures after resistance training may be affected by the duration of muscle contraction.

Figure 1. Ultrasonic images of the longitudinal sections of the vastus lateralis muscle at rest (A) and during isometric 50 % MVC contraction (B)

The point at which one fascicle was attached to the deep aponeurosis was defined as P. A marker (X) was placed between the skin and the ultrasonic probe as an indicator to confirm that the probe did not move during measurements. The cross-point between the superficial aponeurosis and fascicles did not move. Therefore, the distance travelled by P (P₂– P₁) was defined as the length change of the tendon and aponeurosis during contraction. VL, m. vastus lateralis; VI, m. vastus intermedius.

Figure 2. Relative change in the muscle volumes of m. rectus femoris (RF), VL, VI and m. vastus medialis (VM) before and after isometric training for 12 weeks

□, SC protocol; ▪, LC protocol. All the muscle volumes increased significantly. However, there appeared to be no differences in the degree of increase in the muscle volume among the knee extensor muscles. *Significantly greater than before at P < 0.05.

Figure 3. Relationship between F_m and L before and after the two kinds of isometric training for 12 weeks

The extent of elongation after the LC protocol tended to be shorter than that before. *Significantly greater than before at P < 0.05.